After a fire – big or small – smoke, moisture and importantly soot, are hidden killers that might just destroy many, if not all, electronic devices in your home. Recognize that soot and your electronics make a horrible combination. “How soot gets into the small, microscopic workings of electronic equipment, and what makes it so damaging once it’s there, is an interesting saga,” according to Adriana Young, Owner, Paul Davis Restoration of Central Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. “First the fire, next the smoke, and with smoke a destructive soot invades and hides deeply. This soot is not just some harmless fire byproduct. It’s a sticky residue, highly acidic, and often electrically conductive. It’s tiny! Small enough to get snugly inside any vent of any electronic device in your home. And, it’s a major problem.”
When soot settles on a circuit board, it can corrode many if not all the tiny copper and gold contacts. Once you plug in a soot infected device, the soot may bridge circuits, short-out components, or worst of all, fry the device’s motherboard. Turning on your device after soot has invaded likely ruins the device forever.
“Rule number 1, explains Young … Never turn on any electronic device after a fire.
They might look fine, yet internal corrosion may already be underway, and you can damage the fine inner workings immediately. Impatience is not your friend. Professional electronic technicians are. They will first inspect devices thoroughly and then, their skills and experience serve best to avoid lasting damage.”
Rule #2, admonishes Young … Patience now, will pay big dividends later.
Naturally, many homeowners are a bit frantic after first responders have extinguished the fire and left the scene. Homeowners are anxious to get started putting their home back in order. Paul Davis Restoration specializes in post-fire cleanup of electronics and so much more. Furnishings, drapes and carpeting, hardwood flooring, wallboard and ceilings, all demand proper cleaning. So too will clothing, bedding, photography, artwork and valuables that have to some degree been affected. Mistakenly jumping in to care for these items can cause more damage and in some cases force later discarding what might be saved with correct treatments and cleaning. Homeowners who entrust this work to Paul Davis technicians, and other experts like them, are always in good hands.
Rule #3, warns Young … Don’t clean it yourself.
Most electronics produce heat. Heat that needs to dissipate. If it doesn’t dissipate, equipment grows hotter and hotter, frying the device’s internal components. Many electronics have component fans aimed at vents to help keep the inside cool. Laptops, game consoles, desktop computers, smart TVs, and sound systems all have them. During a fire, these fans often suck in soot and smoke, pulling them straight to the motherboard. Once coated, your device loses its ability to cool itself. The result? Even if you manage to power the device on, it will overheat quickly and fail, sometimes within days. Wiping with standard cleaners, WindexTM, normal household cleaners and treated wipes, and even alcohol alone, can trigger chemical reactions with the acidic soot that accelerates corrosion in electronics. Softgoods improperly treated and cleaned may drive smoke odor and soot even deeper into materials. Household surfaces like countertops and wood tables can even be damaged without proper treatment. “Don’t even use a vacuum for electronic devices. In some cases, vacuuming or blowing compressed air over equipment can push soot deeper into vents or contacts.
Rule #4, encourages Young … Seek advice from your insurer.
A discussion with your insurance provider is right and proper. Their adjusters and technical staff can be good advisers. So too, are mitigation and restoration experts at Paul Davis and other professional firms.
Rule #5, concludes Young … Ensure safety to electronics after a fire.
Safety to your electronics, demands just two things you can realistically do after a fire: unplug your electronic devices, take some pictures for documentation, and let it be.
Next, call a professional restoration company. Their specialists have the tools to clean soot from electronics and hopefully, return them to their previous excellent condition. Yes, it’s a little discerning, but the reality is that when it comes to soot and electronics, let professionals do the heavy lifting.
