What Are Those "Cobwebs"?

3/18/2024 (Permalink)

When your Cecil County property suffers fire damage in the form of a smoke or soot explosion, you may be wondering what those webs are on your walls and ceilings.  Those webs are soot carbon chains which often form when oil explodes out of a heat source, such as a furnace or boiler.

When a heat source is leaking oil or doesn’t function properly, the oil vapors in the system can build up to a dangerous level.  Eventually, the oil will have nowhere to go, leading it to burst out of the system and into your property.  The smoke and soot damage that occurs will quickly find its way throughout a property and onto many surfaces.  The carbon in the soot then begins to strike other sources of soot, which causes the carbon chains that take the appearance of cobwebs.

While this form of fire damage can be overwhelming, there are several actions you can take to help prevent this:

• Heating systems should be maintained and cleaned annually.  A professional can help to address any issues.
• Be aware of any signs that your system is not burning oil properly.  Soot can slowly appear on your walls, ceilings or other surfaces when there is a problem.
• Be mindful of any offensive odors that could mean an oil leak.
• Check for any signs of debris or buildup.

Should you have a puffback, we recommend hiring a fire damage restoration professional to clean and restore the affected areas.  Improperly attempting to remove soot can lead to additional damage.

SERVPRO of Cecil County offers 24/7 emergency fire damage services for residential and commercial properties!  We provide the utmost urgency and care for your property and belongings.