Using Odor Counteractants to Eliminate Smoke and Fire Damage in Collegedale Homes

4/18/2017 (Permalink)

When devastation strikes, our SERVPRO team will be there with a lending hand.

How SERVPRO Uses Products to Get Rid of Smoke and Fire Damage Odor in Homes

The smoke removal process is something which most people associate with the end of fire damage restoration. However, companies like SERVPRO implement odor control techniques throughout the entire clean up. The reason for this is that each deodorization method has a slightly different purpose and objective.

For instance, preliminary sprays are used to ensure the environment is safe for the team to start repairing fire damage in Collegedale homes. These deodorizing chemicals are not powerful enough on their own, however, so SERVPRO may also use granular counteractants. Where sprays only prevent more odors from developing, odor counteractants control those that are airborne.

How We Apply Odor Counteractants

Granular deodorants come in a solid form, rather than a spray. This medium means that they are perfect for prolonged use. They can be applied liberally to crawlspaces, attics, cupboards, alcoves, voids above suspended ceilings, and in the plenum of furnace heaters.

Like spray deodorizers, they do release a vapor, but it happens at a slower, more controlled rate. For this reason, they are particularly valuable for households which are vulnerable or sensitive to ‘can to air’ spray applications.

The granular counteractants in the formula are designed to eliminate any odor particles which entered the air before preliminary steps occurred or which the preliminary deodorizers did not manage to trap.

How to Use Granular Counteractants Safely

At SERVPRO, we try to avoid treating plastic, painted, and varnished materials with granular counteractants. In some cases, the chemical formulation causes thinning to surface finishes. If there is no suitable alternative, it may be possible to protect the material with a rudimentary buffer of sorts (aluminum foil or paper plates).

Normally, the application of granular counteractants has to be followed up by a period of thermal fogging. It is especially important for larger homes because the range of crystallized deodorizers is limited. Nevertheless, they are extremely handy when it comes to consistent, controlled odor removal, particularly in small areas (cupboards, behind walls, in attics, etc.)

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

SERVPRO of East Chattanooga provides local fire damage repairs and restoration. We are ideally placed to assist homeowners in the Collegedale area. Our state of the art deodorization equipment makes short work of lingering smoke odors. Call us 24/7 on (423) 326-1406.