After the Wildfires and Dealing with Smoke Contamination

It’s not “if” the wildfires will happen, it’s “when”. While you may have dodged a bullet from the surrounding fires, you can still have a very serious health concern for your family. Soot particles are four times smaller than dust particles, and 30 times smaller than fine sand particles. They are extremely small and are considered toxic. Their composition is composed of carbon, which was produced from incomplete combustion, and because of their small size, they can easily enter your lungs. Smoke and soot damage can lead to many health problems, and breathing these tiny particles can cause coronary heart disease, asthma, bronchitis, and many other respiratory illnesses. Smoke and soot damage should be avoided at all cost.
Scientific data has shown that soot annually causes almost 300,000 asthma attacks and two million lost workdays due to respiratory problems. Smoke and soot exposure leads to around 20,000 premature deaths in America each year. Many of these deaths were caused by soot-related diseases. Upgrading your ventilation vents can give your home a fighting chance when the next Wildfire blows through your area.
If your home is in an area that has experienced a brush fire within the last two years, you should have your attic inspected for contaminants, and if you have contaminated insulation, it should be removed and replaced. Many times, during an attic inspection we discover other forms of contamination such as rodent droppings and urine. The contaminated areas should be sanitized and disinfected. Vents should also be upgraded with the latest high strength and tight HPR-Vents (one-eighth-inch grid-vent) screens. When a wildfire hits your area, these fire safety vents are 95 percent effective in keeping the fire embers from entering your home. They can also go a long way in keeping rodents out, as well as medium size dirt and dust containments. If you or anyone in your family suffers from allergies or asthma, you may want to consider the new Owens Corning “Pure Safety High Performance” wall, attic, and crawl space insulation. These new insulation products are approved by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). Don’t hesitate; have your attic inspected today.
Anco Design Build has been providing energy saving solutions since 1981. Financing is available through Go Green Financing. Our company is licensed in General Construction, Concrete, Landscaping, and Swimming Pools. We provide a free consultation for all your home improvement needs. Call us at 818-299-1188 or visit us at www.ancodb.com.