3 Ways Smoke Can Damage Electronics

11/15/2021 (Permalink)

If you had a fire in your Punta Gorda, home, you may be surprised by the fire cleanup. Not only does your residential fire damage cleanup team have to replace charred building materials, clean smoky furniture, and remove foul odors, but they may also have to clean damaged electronics. Smoke can affect your electronic devices in a variety of ways.

1. Causes overheating. Did you know the layer of soot on your television, printer and other electronic items could lead to an overheating problem? The black film on your electronics actually acts as an insulator. When the heat is kept in, your devices may start to malfunction. Many professionals may suggest you keep all of your electronics turned off until they can be assessed properly.

2. Destroys metals. Soot, a byproduct of smoke, may have a high acidity level. Metals often react poorly to acidity. Metal objects may become discolored. In severe situations, the electronics may even start to disintegrate because of the soot. If you want to recover your electronics, this part of the fire cleanup process has to happen quickly.

3. Leads to short circuits. Part of the smoke damage comes in the form of the magnetic charge caused by the soot. When a magnetic charge is introduced to an electronic item, it can lead to a short circuit. This type of damage usually only occurs if the electronics are turned on before they are properly cleaned.

It may surprise you to learn about the various ways that smoke can affect your electronic devices. If you want to save your computers and televisions after a fire, you need to make sure to clean the devices before powering them on. This important fire cleanup step could help you save your treasured electronic devices. Remember, some electronics may not be salvageable after a fire even if they do not seem charred by the flames.