Why Does Smoke Damage Electronics?

12/13/2021 (Permalink)

What does smoke do to electronics?

The intense heat caused by a fire is likely to destroy electronics. Even exposure to smoke can cause irreparable damage. Find out more about why smoke damage affects appliances and devices and how this damage may be restored as part of professional fire cleanup.

What Is In Smoke?

Smoke is a visible suspension of small particles. The composition of smoke may include:

• Water vapor
• Carbon monoxide
• Carbon dioxide
• Nitrogen oxide
• Volatile organic compounds
  
  

The acidity of smoke causes metals to corrode or disintegrate. It is necessary to ensure that circuit boards and other electronic components function properly after exposure to heat or smoke.

What Does Smoke Do To Electronics?

Smoke damage can cause a black film to develop over internal electronic components. This residue may cause malfunctions, such as:

• Overheating
• Short-circuiting
• Electrical fires
  
  

Black film is formed when smoke adheres to any dirt or dust that is already present in electronics. An owner can attempt to clean out corrosion or film, but this effort is more likely to be successful when attempted by fire cleanup professionals.

How Do Experts Clean Up Damage?

Restoration specialists will remove electronics from the scene of a fire for cleanup off-site in a dedicated facility. This may involve:

• Removing corrosion or residues
• Attempting to retrieve data
• Providing proof of loss
  
  

Even if a device is no longer functional, it may still be possible to retrieve data stored on a hard drive or memory card. Experts may also be able to completely restore devices that have only suffered slight damage.

Exposure to smoke can cause corrosion or residues to form on the internal components of electronic appliances and devices. While a non-professional may attempt to clean contents after a house fire in Hibsaw, OK, trained fire cleanup professionals working in controlled environments are likely to achieve the best results with delicate components inside electronics.