If It Still Smells, It’s Not Truly Clean

You mopped up the water. The flames are out. Yet a stubborn odor hangs in the air. That smell isn’t just annoying—it’s a signal that contamination remains in materials or in the HVAC system. Odors from mold, sewage, protein fires, or wet building materials can embed quickly. This guide explains how professionals at AllStates Restoration track down the source, clean the structure and contents, and apply the right deodorization technology for a lasting fix—not a cover-up.

Why Odors Linger

Odors persist when odor-causing molecules (VOCs), soot, or microbial byproducts remain in or on:

  • Porous materials: drywall, insulation, carpet/pad, upholstery, unfinished wood
  • Hidden cavities: wall and ceiling voids, toe-kicks, under sill plates, subfloors
  • HVAC pathways: coils, condensate pans, ducts, return boots, and filters
  • Contents: textiles, books, and soft furniture that absorbed smoke or moisture

Odor–Removal

1) Inspection & Moisture Mapping

We use infrared cameras, pin/pinless meters, and borescopes to find wet or contaminated zones that noses alone can’t locate.

2) Source Removal

  • Cut and remove unsalvageable porous materials (wet drywall/insulation, carpet/pad impacted by sewage).
  • HEPA vacuum soot/particulates before any wet cleaning to avoid smearing.
  • Degrease and neutralize smoke films with alkaline detergents so residues don’t set.

3) Cleaning & Disinfection

  • Clean-water events: Detergent cleaning + targeted antimicrobial as needed.
  • Category 3 water: Full containment, negative air, disinfection, and disposal of porous materials per industry standards.

4) Structural Drying & Humidity Control

  • High-velocity air movers and LGR dehumidifiers bring materials to safe moisture
  • Keep indoor RH 40–55% to prevent odor rebound and microbial growth.

5) HVAC Decontamination

  • Negative-pressure duct cleaning with brush agitation.
  • Sanitize coils, pans, and boots; replace filters (MERV per system specs).
  • Seal gaps at boots/returns where dust and odor can re-enter.

6) Deodorization Technologies (Choosing the Right Tool)

  • Hydroxyl generators: Create reactive radicals that break down VOCs; safe for occupied spaces—great for smoke/mildew/general post-mitigation odor.
  • Thermal fogging: Deodorant fog follows smoke pathways into pores/crevices to pair and neutralize odor molecules.
  • Ozone (Unoccupied Only): Potent oxidizer for severe organic odors; used with strict safety and post-ventilation.
  • Enzyme/encapsulation: For pet urine and protein residues; enzymes digest organics, encapsulants lock residual odor in subfloors.

7) Verification & Sign-Off

  • Odor assessment at normal temperature/RH, plus “white-glove” surface checks.
  • Moisture logs and a completion packet with photos for you (and your insurer).

Odor–Removal by Loss Type

A) Water/Mildew (Clean or Gray)

  1. Fix source and extract.
  2. Remove wet pad/saturated drywall and dry to standards.
  3. Clean/disinfect; run HEPA air scrubbers.
  4. If odor lingers: hydroxyl

B) Sewage/Category 3

  1. Containment and negative air immediately.
  2. Remove porous materials; disinfect structure.
  3. Dry; treat persistent odor with hydroxyl or ozone (unoccupied).
  4. Verify with moisture logs and odor checks.

C) Smoke & Fire

  1. HEPA dry removal; chem sponges on delicate finishes.
  2. HVAC cleaning (ducts, coils, boots).
  3. Thermal fogging + hydroxyl (occupied safe); ozone for severe, unoccupied treatment.

Why New Jersey Homeowners Choose AllStates Restoration

  • Local & fast: 24/7 dispatch; across Monmouth, Middlesex, and nearby counties.
  • IICRC-certified for Water (WRT/ASD), Fire/Smoke (FSRT), and Mold (AMRT).
  • Lasting odor removal isn’t about stronger scents—it’s about finding and eliminating the source, cleaning correctly, drying to standard, and using the right technology for the residue. Do that, and your home smells like home again.

Struggling with smoke, sewage, or stubborn musty odors?
Call AllStates Restoration at (732) 956-3900 or request service at hireasr.com.
We’ll track the source, fix it right, and leave you with clear documentation—and clean, healthy air.

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