Experiencing a fire is one of the most traumatic things your household can go through. In addition to the physical damage to your property, there is also the mental toll it takes on your family, not to mention the health risks house fires can potentially lead to down the line.
Speaking of which, if your property has recently experienced fire damage, you may be wondering, “can you sleep in your house after a fire?” Fortunately, our experts at FP Property Restoration are here to tell you everything you need to know.
Why You Shouldn’t Sleep in Your Home Following a House Fire
Broadly speaking, the answer to the above question is “no, you cannot sleep in your house after a fire.” This is because whether the fire was minimal or severe, there may still be soot and smoke damage that has seeped into the surfaces of your home. Oftentimes, you will be able to recognize this kind of fire damage by the burning odor that has stayed behind. However, even if this odor has dissipated, that soot and smoke damage is unlikely to lift until it has been professionally cleaned off. Moreover, items in our home that have not completely burned can also have smoke damage clinging to them, as it is the combustion process that leads to smoke and soot damage.
The devastating health effects of smoke damage are very real, especially if someone in your home is immunocompromised or dealing with respiratory issues. And in addition to smoke damage itself, certain items in your home may also be giving off toxic fumes, as the burning of certain foams, fabrics, plastics, carpets, and even some kinds of wood can release harmful chemicals into the air that may then enter your body through the nose, eyes, and mouth. Dangerous materials released during fires include asbestos fibers, carbon, sulfur, hydrogen chloride, phosgene, and dioxin, as well as many of the same chemicals found in cigarettes.
If you sleep in your home after a house fire, you may experience:
- Irritations: In addition to irritation on your skin, you may also find yourself dealing with itchy eyes following a house fire. For instance, you may find that your eyes are becoming red and watery, which can potentially lead to vision problems in the future if you do not leave the affected area as soon as possible.
- Respiratory Issues: Staying in a smoke-damaged house is basically like smoking a pack of cigarettes—even if you have never smoked in your life. The lingering damage can lead to ongoing respiratory issues in your lungs and airway. The more you continue to inhale this damage, the worse it will be for your health, even affecting your organs down the line.
- Skin Problems: Remember, smoke damage can cling to furniture, clothes, and other surfaces, so until your property has been fully cleaned, the particles released during combustion can still get on your skin. If you have noticed this happening following smoke damage, apply lotion, visit a doctor, and call a professional for more cleaning, as the rashes and other problems on your skin aren’t going to just go away on their own.
FP Property Restoration is Here for All Your Smoke Damage Needs
At FP Property Restoration, we proudly offer fire damage restoration for all area homeowners—no matter how severe or minimal the damage is. On top of our comprehensive fire and smoke cleanup, we can provide you with contents cleaning and restoration, so there is no lingering soot and smoke damage clinging to your furniture, clothes, and other belongings. We also provide post-fire repairs for situations where a home has been extremely damaged, and may need custom cabinetry or other modifications to get up and running again. And to top it off, we will do everything in our power to ensure you receive maximum compensation from your insurance company, even assisting you in finding a place to stay, so you do not have to sleep in a smoke-damaged house for even one night.
For emergency 24/7 restoration services, call anytime at (888) 408-2335. You should also feel free to fill out our contact form online.