People who have experienced a fire at their home may feel as though they want a little time to recover from the trauma of the incident, but it is actually more important that they take steps to begin the fire damage restoration process as soon as possible. Fire damage restoration is most successful when it is started within a few days of the incident occurring, especially when attempting restoration on technological components, such as computers or TVs.
The dangers of heat damage
Heat damage is one of the greatest dangers to electronic components. Whilst your TV or computer may look ok from the outside, if internal components have become too hot, they may have warped or broken. Luckily, internal components are usually designed to withstand higher heats than external components such as the main case. If the outside of the case looks unaffected, or has only suffered minor consequences of heat damage, it may be worth having the item assessed to see if it can be salvaged. If the assessment proves negative for critical heat damage, then it is time to consider other serious forms of damage which can occur because of fire.
Be aware of smoke damage
Fire damage restoration experts should always consider the effects of smoke damage, as it is one of the most pervasive types of damage to occur during a fire incident. Smoke can travel throughout the building where the fire is, and it may even affect neighbouring properties. Many electronic items have vents on them to help to keep the internal components cool during use, however these vents can also let water and smoke in. If smoke has been able to enter the vents of your electronic components then it is important that you get them assessed for smoke damage. Whilst it may be tempting to try turning your device on straight away, you should have it assessed before you use it, because turning it on when there is smoke residue on certain components could cause the device to fatally short circuit, rendering it unusable and irreparable. Even if you already know that your device is in working order, it is important to take fire damage restoration steps as soon as possible, because smoke residue contains corrosive substances which can corrode delicate components over time. In order to clean electronic components, it is important that fire damage restoration specialists have had special training in working with these items, because a lack of precision and sensitivity could also damage the electronics.
Restoration cost vs replacement
When it comes to electronics, restoration is normally less expensive than buying a new device, unless you are currently using an old device which has a low monetary value. Heat and smoke damage can actually destroy devices months after the actual fire, and at this point in time, your insurance cover will rarely pay out, as it is much harder to prove that it was related to the fire. Fire damage restoration could save your component as well as saving you money.
Reference: http://orange-restoration.com/services/san-diego-fire-damage-and-smoke-removal/