How Are Deodorization Agents Used to Restore Fire Damage in Mount Juliet?

3/7/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO's Equipment and IICRC Best Standards Neutralize Smoke Damage

Deodorizing technologies are a big part of fire damage restoration. They have made the job of eliminating lingering odors much easier than it was in the past. It is because deodorizing machines imitate the behavior of smoke and soot particles.

These devices can disperse odor busting chemicals in a way that ensures full penetration. Without this, deodorizers have a habit of getting obstructed and settling on top of surfaces, which isn’t very helpful. So, when we repair fire damage in Mount Juliet homes, we always turn to this technology.

Keep reading to learn about the deodorizing agents used and why they are so effective at banishing bad smoke smells.

Masking Chemicals
Masking deodorizers are only used as a supplementary measure because they don’t eliminate smoke odors. They merely hide them. They can be useful if odors are very strong and the SERVPRO team finds it hard to work around them. Sometimes, we apply masking chemicals at the very end of the restoration, when the odor causing particles are gone. They leave a pleasant floral fragrance.

Absorbing Chemicals
These chemicals neutralize smoke particles by drawing them into or onto themselves. In most cases, another method (an air purifier) is then needed to capture these ‘amalgamated’ particles and dispose of them safely.

Pairing Chemicals
Similarly, pairing chemicals neutralize smoke odors by joining with them to form two bound particles. Once contact is made, the odor is assimilated, and a masking agent is applied.

Disinfecting Chemicals
It isn’t just odors that deodorizing machines can disperse, however. They are also an excellent way to release disinfectants, particularly in rooms containing significant amounts of porous items (such as fabrics).

Chemicals ending with ‘-cide’ (Latin root meaning to kill) deal with microorganisms directly. They kill noxious substances in the air. Chemicals ending with ‘-stat’ are used to restrict and control their propagation.

Common Deodorizing Equipment
The success of deodorizing, particularly after a fire, depends on how the chemicals are applied. The aim is to ‘follow’ the smoke into the damaged or compromised items. So, as smoke behaves in a very distinct way – like a kind of mist – the deodorizers replicate this, assuring contact with the unwanted particulates.

The most commonly used machines are wet and dry foggers, vapor diffusers, and ozone and hydroxyl generators. At SERVPRO, we assess the nature of the fire damage first and then decide which method is most suitable.

SERVPRO of Wilson County is a local franchise, with lots of experience handling fire damage in residential and commercial buildings. If you need help fast, we are ready to provide it. Call us 24/7 at (615) 449-500.