Fire Cleanup and Your Electronics

10/21/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke particles in your electronics can cause an electric fire in your Washington, NC home.

Many people don't realize it, but even flames from controlled fires such as a candle or cigarette can harm electronics simply by the smoke that fills the air. Smoke is a mixture of gases, solids, and liquid particles that can damage delicate electrical components. The damage is much worse when you have a Washington, NC, house fire, given the large, uncontrolled flames. Smoke and soot can cover every inch of the affected area. Fire cleanup professionals will tell you that smoke gradually builds up layer upon layer on and in electronic devices. This buildup attracts dust and other air particles, which accumulate, eventually causing the machine to overheat. This overheating can lead to an electrical fire. Smoke particles can cause circuit boards to behave erratically. This random behavior happens as a result of electrical currents flowing to unintended areas. To make matters worse, smoke also has an acidic property that will corrode materials that typically comprise electronics, such as metal, plastic, and glass. When soot is combined with moisture, it has similar corrosive effects.

How To Clean Electronics With Smoke Damage

1. Remove the Memory

First and foremost, it's vital to save the memory from the equipment. The memory could be more important than the device itself, and you can move it to a different piece of equipment if needed. Even if the equipment can't be restored, at least you can rescue what is saved on your removable memory. If you're not currently saving files to the cloud, it could be a game-changer for you. By doing this, you have access to your files wherever you are as long as you have an internet connection, and they are safe from disasters, so you'll always have an off-premises backup.

2. Power Off and Unplug

Next, you need to unplug the devices and keep the power off. Even being kept plugged in without being powered on can risk an electrical fire and avoid more potential damage. Leave them unplugged for at least 24 hours.

3. Look for Paperwork

Fire cleanup won't be needed for a device that's covered under warranty. Check any warranty information to see if it covers smoke damage.

4. Wipe Down the Device

Next, you'll need to begin the cleaning process. Remove the outer casing to assess the internal damage. Wipe down non-electronic parts with a damp cloth. You can use compressed air to spray all of the dust, debris, and soot off the delicate electrical components.

5. Let the Device Air Out

Finally, it's time to let everything air out so it can dry thoroughly. If you can leave it to air out for several days, it'll also remove some of the smoke odor.

Fire, smoke, and soot can do a lot of damage to electronics. Fire cleanup may not be successful on all of your smoke-damaged devices. However, if you can do it safely, it's worth trying before spending money on new ones. It's helpful to know beforehand the basics of how to care for electronics that have smoke damage. It could mean the difference between several hundred dollars if you're successful.