What Happens To Your Electronics After a Fire?

6/25/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can clean electronics after a fire

Whether you've experienced a kitchen fire or an electrical fire, the contents of your commercial property have most likely been effected in some way. This includes electronics like computers, printers and televisions. If you're in Auburn, KY, what can you do about it?

What's The Damage?

While fire itself is probably the most obviously damaging to its surroundings, more insidious side effects like smoke damage can be almost as harmful, and more pervasive. Smoke is airborne so it can reach almost any surface. Unfortunately, soot can cause electronics and appliances to malfunction. Some common resulting issues are:

• part degradation, because soot is acidic
  
• shorted circuits, because smoke has a magnetic charge
  
• overheating, because of the insulating effect of the black film left behind by smoke
  
  

Are They Salvageable?

Unless your machine was part of an electrical fire itself, the answer is most likely yes. Before taking any further action, you should shut off and unplug all electronics and appliances present. In the case of a computer, try and remove any hard drives or memory. If possible, transfer what you can to an undamaged computer or storage space.

Can You Do It Yourself?

Due to the complex nature of digital machines and the specificity of the situation, you are better off calling a professional remediation service for your computer cleanup job. This is especially true if you have a large number of electronic assets. These types of items are valuable, so it is in your best interest to ensure that they are not damaged further through ignorance. In the proper hands, your appliances could be as good as new.
If you've managed to come out the other side of an electrical fire, you are probably looking to continue to run your business while you rebuild. In order to do that, you shouldn't forget about smoke damage and do what you can to keep your electronics in working order. Computers need love, too!