How Smoke Impacts Buildings
Wildfire damage goes beyond the destruction of buildings. The aftermath and lingering smoke can take a serious toll on any structure. In many cases, smoke damage results in having to remove and even dispose of various items that have smoke residue on them. Carpets are common culprits of holding on to that smoky smell and very often buildings need to clean and repaint their walls. Removing items is a first step toward smoke smell remediation, but to get the smell out of a building completely the HVAC system will require a complete clean.
Smoke and HVAC Systems
Wildfire smoke finds its way into any building, no matter how well sealed it may be. Wind can carry smoke and particulates for miles so even structures that are not in close proximity to the source of the fire are impacted by the smoke. Smoke can enter a building through the returning air duct and once it makes its way into an HVAC system, it can cause a number of air quality-related problems. Every time the AC unit kicks on, this debris is circulated throughout the building and anyone inside is stuck breathing in this contaminated air. Smoke inside an HVAC system poses a serious threat, especially to anyone living with respiratory issues such as asthma.
Remediating Smoke Damage
After a fire, it is crucial to perform a complete cleaning of an HVAC system. Smoke smell remediation not only removes the pungent smoke smell from a building, but it also cleans the HVAC system and improves air quality. Along with smoke, ash and soot can build up inside vents after a fire. Over time, this build up can wear on a system and the longer people are exposed to this smoky air, the greater the health risks. Smoke smell remediation will involve a thorough cleaning of a structure’s furnace, AC unit, and ductwork.
Long-Term Care and Prevention
For any building situated in a location that experiences wildfires, there are a few steps that can be taken to reduce the impacts of smoke damage. Regular air duct and HVAC cleaning play a key role in maintaining healthy air quality. Many professional services ( https://www.air-tek.net/who-we-are/ ) will recommend installing activated charcoal filters. These filters remove toxic smoke and play an important role in smoke smell remediation. Air scrubbers can also be used to collect and capture ash and soot particulates, resulting in a cleaner and better smelling environment.