Whether you live in Los Angeles or another part of California, you know that fires are a part of life. Fire wreaks havoc on properties and leaves a major mess behind, including layers of soot and charred belongings. But what is soot, exactly, and is it dangerous? The professionals at Restorerz Emergency Services have the answer to these questions and more to provide you with indispensable information and peace of mind.
Soot Basics
Soot is a black powder primarily consisting of carbon. This powder is created by the incomplete combustion of organic materials and fuels like coal, oil, or wood. Soot is not only ugly, but it may also cause a range of health issues and serious property damage. It forms when gaseous molecules reach a high temperature and particles are held together via strong chemical bonds.
While soot is mostly made of carbon, it can also contain other substances like trace metals, ash, and VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds. After a fire, soot can damage property, stain surfaces, and may potentially cause serious structural damage. On a larger scale, soot absorbs sunlight and contributes to climate change (or climate warming).
Sources of Soot
So, what are some sources of soot, and what is soot from fire? Here is a more detailed breakdown of potential sources of soot and where it may come from.
- Fire: Any fire, large or small, is a major source of soot, which forms when materials like paper, plastic, or wood burn incompletely.
- Fossil fuels: When coal, oil, or natural gas burns, it releases soot as a byproduct, especially on a large scale, like for industrial applications and power generation.
- Vehicles and machinery: Any vehicle or machinery with an internal combustion engine produces soot, most notably in those with diesel engines.
- Household: Burning candles, some cooking processes, and poorly ventilated fireplaces may all contribute to small amounts of soot forming indoors.
- Natural causes: Volcanic eruptions and wildfires are both significant sources of soot and release large amounts of it into the atmosphere.
Health and Environmental Impacts
Is soot dangerous to human health and the environment? This byproduct of fire and combustion may have significant impacts on both.
Health impacts
Exposure to soot (such as breathing it in) over an extended period may pose a serious health risk to humans and animals.
- Soot can cause lung irritation and symptoms like coughing, trouble breathing, and worsening of asthma, allergy, and other respiratory symptoms.
- Long-term exposure to soot may also cause strokes, heart attacks, or other heart-related issues.
- Soot contains known carcinogens called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that may increase cancer risk after exposure.
- People living in areas with extreme soot pollution have a higher risk of premature death.
- Exposure to soot may contribute to other health issues like impairment of the immune system, metabolic disorders, and reproductive problems.
Environmental impacts
Not only does soot negatively impact health, but it also has negative impacts on the environment.
- Soot particles and other airborne pollutants combine to form smog, which harms health and reduces air quality and visibility.
- Certain components of soot, like nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, react with moisture in the air to form harmful acid rain.
- Black carbon from soot absorbs sunlight and contributes to environmental warming, particularly in areas with a lot of snow and ice, where it reduces the ability to reflect sunlight, causing more rapid melting.
- Soot may contribute to the acidification of lakes, rivers, and streams and may harm plant life when it covers leaves and reduces the light required for healthy photosynthesis.
Identifying Soot Damage
If you’re the victim of a house fire or other type of fire, it’s important to know how to identify soot damage. Look for these signs that may indicate there is soot damage present on or inside your property.
- Visible marks: Soot is a fine, black powder that may have a greasy texture, and it may smear onto walls, floors, curtains, and other surfaces, so look for these markings to identify soot inside your property.
- Odors: Strong, persistent smoky odors that won’t go away after fire remediation and restoration are a key sign of soot.
- Health issues: If you experience difficult breathing, coughing, or irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat, it may be due to soot exposure.
- HVAC issues: Soot and smoke particles can easily clog HVAC air filters and build up inside ductwork, causing problems with home heating or air conditioning systems.
- Corrosion: Soot can cause metal to corrode, most notably after an electrical fire.
Cleaning and Remediation Techniques
Soot remediation and cleaning require a combination of both dry and wet cleaning methods. The intensity and type of cleaning required usually depend on the severity of the problem and the types of surfaces affected. Here is some more information about specific soot cleaning and remediation techniques that the professionals at Restorerz may use.
Dry cleaning methods
A special vacuum with a HEPA filter is used to remove any loose soot particles from hard surfaces like your floors, walls, and wood or solid furniture.
Wet cleaning methods
During wet cleaning, a mixture of mild detergent or specialized soot detergent and warm water is typically utilized to remove stubborn stains. Degreasers or another cleaning solution like trisodium phosphate (TSP) may also be used in more severe cases, but these products are best left to the professionals since they tend to be quite harsh.
Other remediation methods
Soot remediation also includes methods like ventilation, containment, and odor neutralization. Special odor-neutralizing products that contain charcoal can help to absorb smells. Professional containment of soot particles helps to prevent them from infiltrating clean, unaffected areas.
For Professional Smoke & Fire Remediation Services, Contact Restorerz Today
If you are facing fire and soot damage to your Los Angeles area home, don’t panic. For comprehensive smoke and fire damage restoration services and peace of mind, trust Restorerz to be by your side every step of the way. If you’d like to learn more or want to schedule service, contact us today!