Fire DamageResidential6 days on-site

Whole-Condo Soot Cleanup After a Kitchen Puffback

Norwalk, CTSeptember 2025Fire & Soot Cleanup

After

Before

Drag the handle to compare before and after

1,400

Square feet treated

Days on-site

420

Contents items cleaned

100%

Odor neutralized

Initial Assessment

What Happened

An oil boiler puffback sent fine, oily soot through every supply register in a 1,400 sq ft condo. The homeowner came home from a weekend trip to find every surface, every fabric, and every dish coated in a black film with the burned-fuel smell that comes with it.

Damage Inventory

Scope of Damage

HVAC System

Severe

Soot in every supply boot, return drop, and the air handler itself. Complete HVAC clean required before reoccupancy.

Living & Dining

Severe

Walls, ceilings, and ceiling fans coated. Upholstered furniture wrapped and sent out for off-site cleaning.

Kitchen

Moderate

Interior of cabinets, pantry, and small appliances film-coated. Dishes wet-cleaned in three stages.

Bedrooms

Moderate

Bedding bagged and laundered off-site. Closets HEPA-vacuumed and chem-sponged. Mattresses encapsulated and salvaged.

Restoration Process

How We Solved It

1
Pack-Out & Inventory
Affected contents inventoried photo-by-photo and packed out to our climate-controlled facility for cleaning.
2
HVAC Source Removal
Air handler, blower wheel, and every register cleaned per NADCA ACR. New filter installed before any structural cleaning.
3
Dry & Wet Surface Cleaning
Chem sponges for ceilings and walls first, then degreaser and final wet wipe. Three-stage cleaning sequence.
4
Odor Treatment
Hydroxyl generators ran for 72 hours to neutralize residual odor. No occupancy required during treatment.
5
Pack-Back & Walkthrough
Contents returned, placed by photo, and the homeowner walked through every room before sign-off.