Smoke and fire damage to your home is devastating. Understanding related variables such as extinguisher chemicals, water, smoke and soot damage can help you more specifically and confidently plan your next steps. Youll need to work with your insurance provider and a qualified, licensed contractor to recover the former quality of your home.
The average price of cleaning up fire and smoke damage ranges widely. Homeowners typically pay between $3,251 and $22,380, with a national average of $9,815 for a full repair. Your exact cost will depend on a number of major factors, such as the extent of the damage, potential costs in water cleanup, chemical repair from extinguishers, soot removal, and smoke damage restoration.
Important Notes:
- Contact your insurance representative or adjuster first. Out-of-pocket costs will depend on policy coverage.
- This is a job for licensed professionals only. Extreme caution is required because additional contamination and hazards can occur during restoration.
On This Page:
- Water Cleanup
- Soot Removal
- Smoke Damage Restoration
- Deodorizing Textiles
- Remove Ozone
- Fire Safety Preparedness
- Smoke Detectors
- Extinguishers
- Sprinkler Systems
- Insurance
Water Damage and Cleanup
Extinguishing a fire in your home requires either water or other chemicals. Unfortunately, that can result in additional destruction you will have to take care of after the fire is extinguished.Carpets and floors are particularly susceptible to molds if not dried shortly after being soaked. Expect to pay between $1,000 and $3,900 to repair any water damage that occurs from the extinguishing process. Repairing chemical contamination typically costs between $1,000 and $2,500.
Water from a hose can soak a variety of materials in your home, and even destroy some of your walls. Chemical extinguishers, on the other hand, can leave toxic residues that will need to be cleaned once assessed. Each extinguishing variable is preferable to letting the fire spread, but the cleanup after the fact does come with additional costs to consider.
Repairing water damage will require professional humidification as soon as possible. Chemical damages, on the other hand, may require chemical sealers to prevent further harmful effect from their residue.
In each case, you should work with a licensed professional who can assess the exact class and category of the devastation, and recommend the right mitigating solution.
Soot Removal and Cleanup
After the water is cleaned up, it's time to take care of the soot that may have been caused by the fire. Soot results from incompletely burned organic matter during the fire and, if left untreated, can do serious damage to your home.Soot will need to be professionally cleaned. Generally, this stage of the clean-up will cost between $2,000 and $6,000.
Put simply, it can penetrate and significantly damage anything from your upholstered items to your draperies, carpets, and walls. The longer it is left untreated, the more it will penetrate these items, and the more difficult it will be to restore your home.
Two types exist, depending on the exact materials burned: dry and oily. Each requires a different method of cleanup.
- Dry - resulting from high-oxygen fires. Cleaned using dry sponges and low-alkali detergent.
- Oily - spreads further when dry methods are used. Cleaned using high-alkali detergents along with a thorough rinse.
Given these nuances, consulting professionals becomes absolutely vital to thoroughly clean any soot damage. You will also need to clean your air ducts and furnace/air conditioning filters, to prevent any further soot from reappearing down the road.
The costs can quickly become significant, which is why you should consult with professionals to answer a common question. When is it cheaper to simply throw out the affected items? Textiles and other items that are salvageable should be cleaned. Others may need to be replaced.
Smoke Damage Restoration
Restoring smoke destruction should only begin to enter the equation once water and soot are taken care of. This step will include getting rid of any unpleasant and harmful odor, which can only be permanent if the initial source of the odor is completely removed.Like soot, smoke damage gets worse the longer it is left untreated. Its odor can penetrate clothing, furniture, carpets, and a large number of other items in your home. Removing it requires furniture deodorizing, as well as ozone smoke removal and a thorough evaluation of your HVAC system.
Furniture & Textile Deodorizing -$200 - $1,000
Smoke is perhaps its most damaging when entering the fabric of any textiles in your home. In that case, only professional deodorizing can help to get the smell out, and restore your furniture, carpet, and clothing items to their previous state. Expect to pay between $200 and $1,000 when hiring a professional.Thermal fogging is an effective way to eradicate odors. By recreating the same properties that the fire used to enter the fabric, this technique uses chemicals that can reliably remove any odors for good. The size of your home will affect the cost, which typically ranges between $200 and $600.
Ozone Smoke Removal - $200 - $400
An alternative to thermal fogging is ozone treatment, which allows you to remove and clean the smell even as your fabrics are still drying. Materials can run $500 or more, but depending on the extent of the damage, you may only have to pay around $200 to $400 for a full treatment.Ozone removal requires either purchasing the right equipment or chemical, or hiring a cleaner who can go through the process for you. This involves breaking up the smoke molecules, which in turn eliminates the odors. Like thermal fogging, it involves a machine that is best used by professionals.
Fire Safety and Preparedness
Add up the costs mentioned above, and the price of repairing your home after a fire can quickly become expensive. However, you can mitigate some of this by preparing in case a fire should arise.Smoke Detectors
The earlier you know about a potential fire in your home, the faster you can react - and the more you can prevent major damage. A fire alarm system can be as simple as a smoke detector, or as complex as a connected system that is monitored externally and takes care of contacting the local fire department as soon as danger is detected.Smoke detectors are available at home improvement stores for less than $10 per unit. A more complex detector, on the other hand, can cost between $650 and $950, with additional ongoing costs.
Fire Extinguisher
Think of a fire extinguisher in your home as your first aid system. Ideally, you can use it to curb the fire before it escalates. Of course, you can choose between a wide range of extinguishers for your exact needs. Expect to pay between $35 and $100 for a home kit.Bigger is not necessarily better. Especially in smaller houses, a large industrial extinguisher will be difficult to handle, especially by children. Pay special attention to the chemicals used, some of which may be corrosive and actually increase the damage. Proper placement of the extinguisher is also vital.
Sprinkler System
According to some estimates, a sprinkler system can reduce the destruction a house fire causes by up to 90 percent. That's because they immediately spray a budding fire with water, preventing it from spreading.On average, homeowners in the United States pay about $1.50 per square foot of coverage for a new sprinkler. Be sure to specify that your sprinkler system should be in-house, which differs significantly from its similarly-named lawn alternatives.
In short, preparation is the best way to save money - and your property - should it be exposed to a fire. Visit our Fire Preparedness Guide for more information about how you can accomplish just that.
Insurance
The first step you need to take after the fire has been extinguished is to contact the agent or adjuster for your home insurance. Many homeowners opt for standard homeowners policies; however, these vary widely based on provider. You need to be aware of exactly what is covered by your insurance, and what steps you can take to make any repairs.Your insurance will likely specify that only licensed professionals can do the repair work. Ask your agent if your policy includes additional living expenses (such as hotel bills and meals) and what limitations or spending caps there are. This will be important while selecting and scheduling the project with a professional. Make sure that the project can be completed before away-from-home expenses exceed your policys limit.
Consult a licensed professionals after making an insurance claim to follow the proper process and make sure payments go through the right channels. Additional claims management will be completed by the professional working to clean up and repair the damage to your home.
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