After a fire in your home, you probably wonder how soon you can return to living in your space. You are likely ready to get back to the comfort of your home with your family. But risks are associated with returning to your home after a fire.
If you hope to stay in your home after a fire, knowing the risks associated with fire damage is important. Knowing what needs to be done before you safely return to the space is also important. If you want to keep your family safe, you should seek the advice of professionals.
Can You Stay In Your Home After A Fire?
While we know you want to return to your house, it is unsafe to stay in your home after a fire if it still needs to be adequately cleaned. There is a lot that happens to your home during a fire and as it is being put out. With this comes the potential for health risks. These health risks are not worth it, so until your home is clean, you should find somewhere else to stay.
Damage To Your Home After A Fire
As we mentioned, a lot happens to your home during a fire. The damage to your home after a fire includes the following:
Fire Damage
Whether the fire is small and contained or large and uncontained, it is going to cause damage to anything it touches. This damage can include scorching walls, floors, and other surfaces, damaged or broken fixtures, and structural damage to your home.
Smoke Damage
Smoke is going to cause the most damage to your home following a fire. It can go unseen and ends up touching every surface in your home. Smoke can penetrate any upholstered furnishings, insulation, and carpeting. It can also get into your home’s vents and HVAC system. This smoke damage can linger for months or even years if you don’t clean your house.
Water Damage
Whether you put the fire out yourself or have to call the fire department, there will be a lot of water damage to your home following a fire. The area that was affected by the fire will be drenched in water and will take a great deal of time to dry out. Unfortunately, as this dries out, there is a risk for mold growth. This mold growth begins within 48 hours of the area getting wet and will continue to grow if left untreated.
The Health Risks
Health risks following a fire in your home can be detrimental to your short- and long-term health. If you move in too quickly, your health will undoubtedly take a hit. The health risks associated with staying in your home after a fire include the following:
Respiratory Issues
Many respiratory issues are associated with staying in your home after a fire. Exposure to smoke can cause coughing, sneezing, and difficulty breathing in the short term. In addition to the short-term effects, you may also experience long-term problems.
If you don’t address the excessive moisture in your home, mold growth will lead to respiratory irritations and illness. Smoke and soot exposure can also lead to the development of bronchitis, sinus infections, or asthma. If you or your family are dealing with persistent respiratory illnesses, you will need to contact a cleaning service immediately.
Skin And Eye Irritation
If you spend time in a space that a fire has impacted, there is a chance that smoke and soot are still present in the air or on furniture, walls, and floors. Extended time spent in spaces that have not been appropriately cleaned following a fire can lead to skin and eye irritation.
If you touch surfaces with soot and don’t properly wash them before touching your face, it can get into your eyes. This exposure to soot can cause watery, red, irritated eyes. Exposing your skin to soot and smoke can also lead to irritation and inflammation.
Restoring Your Home After A Fire
If you want to stay in your home after a fire, you need to ensure a team of professionals properly cleans it before you move back in. This team will come into your home and remove soot and smoke, dry out excess moisture, board up broken windows, and clean and repair damaged and unsalvagable areas. You should contact a team of professionals within 48 hours of fire damage in order to protect as much of your property as possible.
Fire Restoration With Liberty Restoration
If you are hoping to return to your home after a fire, you need a team of professionals you can trust. They can complete restoration services quickly and keep your family safe. The sooner they come to your home, the sooner you can get back to the comfort of your space. If you looking for a team to perform fire restoration services, look no further than Liberty Restoration.
With years of experience, we’re confident we can restore your home to its former state. In addition to fire restoration, we also provide asbestos abatement, storm damage, flood restoration, and more. If you need fire restoration or would like to speak with one of our experts, reach out to our team today.