Our Fire Damage Repair Experts Explore the Three Most Common Sources of Fire and Smoke Damage During New Hampshire Winters

With the New Hampshire winter upon us it’s officially house fire season – more and more people are spending their time at home. This increases the risk of house fires. In fact, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that more than 360,000 home structures succumb to fires each year, leading to approximately six to eight billion dollars in damages. Our smoke and fire damage repair experts at Soil Away take a look at the three most common sources of fire and smoke damage in our blog below to help you keep your home safe and in peak shape.

Cooking Fires

The leading cause of house fires is cooking. Cooking fires may sound simple and easy to avoid but all it takes is one slip up to result in thousands of dollars’ worth of damages. In order to minimize the chances of starting a cooking fire, take note of the following tips:
• Remove items from stove top when finished cooking
• Use heat-resistant surfaces when cooling down cookware
• Keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen
• Keep a pot cover handy to smother flames in case of a fire
• Keep children and pets away from your stovetops

Chimney Fires

Chimneys have the job of expelling the byproducts of combustion that are created through the use of fireplaces and wood stoves. These byproducts include smoke, water vapor, gases and tar fog. However, over time these substances stick to the inner walls of the chimney and form a residue called creosote. This substance is highly combustible and can cause chimney fires that can damage your home and lead to injury or in some cases, death. It is recommended to have your chimney professionally inspected and cleaned on an annual basis.

Furnace “Puff Backs”

Furnace puff backs occur most often in the wintertime and are the result of a misfiring in your furnace that sends soot through your home. Not only does this cause your home to smell like soot, it may due damage to your drapes, bedding, furniture,cabinets and other personal belongings Oil based soot can be very difficult to remove, so if you are experiencing this problem contact our smoke damage clean up experts right away before it gets out of hand.
Fire and smoke damage can ruin the appearance and smell of your home and also increase the dangers to those living in it. When you’re at home, you want to be safe. If you notice any of the problems discussed above, give our fire damage repair experts a call and we can ensure that you can feel comfortable in your home again. For further questions or concerns, give us a call anytime at (603) 301-4863 and we’ll be happy to help you out.