After a house fire, the lingering presence of soot in your home can contribute to several problems. As the fire damage restoration team at Blue Ridge Property Restore in Martinsburg, WV, explains, allowing soot to remain in your home — or attempting to remove it yourself — can cause lasting harm if you’re not careful.

First, leftover soot and smoke damage is unsightly and accompanied by a foul, smoky smell. This residue can remain on various surfaces after the fire has been put out, discoloring walls and ruining paintings and decor. The visual tarnish is reason enough to remove soot.

Far more troubling is the harm that soot can have on your family’s health. Microscopic soot particulates remain in the air after the fire ends, and breathing in this air or exposing your skin to it can have major health consequences. Soot inhalation has been connected with serious health problems, even after short exposure periods.

The harmful health conditions that have been linked with soot exposure include bronchitis, stroke, cancer, heart attack, and other severe respiratory issues. Depending on the materials that were burned in the fire, carbon monoxide, ammonia, tar, and harmful chemicals may be present.

Because of the potential dangers of soot exposure, it is essential that you have a fire damage restoration team remove any soot from your home immediately. With professional equipment and expertise, they will safely remove this harmful substance so that you and your family can avoid lasting negative consequences.

From fire damage restoration to mold remediation, the team at Blue Ridge Property Restore will help your home recover after disaster strikes. To learn more about their fire and water restoration services or to request a free quote, visit them online or call (304) 262-8100.