When a fire occurs, the flames aren't the only threat to your expensive TVs, computers, and appliances. Smoke and soot can infiltrate the tiny vents of your electronics, causing devastating internal damage.
The Acidic Nature of Soot
Soot is highly acidic. When it settles on the delicate copper traces of a circuit board, it begins to corrode the metal immediately. Even worse, soot is conductive, meaning if you turn on an affected device, it will likely short circuit and destroy itself.
Types of Smoke Residue
How your electronics are affected depends heavily on what burned:
- Synthetic Smoke: Caused by burning plastics and electronics. It creates a thick, black, smudgy residue that is highly corrosive.
- Protein Smoke: Caused by kitchen fires. It's practically invisible but leaves a greasy, sticky residue that traps heat inside devices.
- Dry Smoke: Caused by fast-burning wood and paper. It's powdery and easier to clean, but can still short out microchips.
Professional Recovery & Ultrasonic Cleaning
Do not power on any electronics after a fire. Professional restoration teams carefully pack out these items and use specialized ultrasonic cleaning baths and precision drying chambers to remove the acidic soot before it causes permanent corrosion. We also utilize deionized water and specialized electronics-safe degreasers to neutralize acids.
Crucial First Step
"If your home has suffered smoke damage, unplug all electronics immediately. Do not turn them on to 'see if they work.' The electrical current mixing with conductive soot will permanently fry the motherboard." — Xavier
