4 Tips for Handling Electronics After a Home Fire

7/29/2019 (Permalink)

Keep all of your devices off

Four Tips For The Best Chance of Restoring Any Electronics

If you’ve just experienced a home fire in Willow Spring, NC, you likely are eager to see if your electronic devices are working. However, these type of belongings requires special handling by a fire cleanup company to ensure further damage doesn’t occur. When trying to recover your items after a fire, make sure to follow the following four tips for the best chance of restoring any electronics.

1. Keep All of Your Devices Off

Never try turning on devices after a fire. Smoke damage can leave a residue containing acids on any metal surfaces of the device, which can lead to corrosion. Turning on the device before removing these residues can cause electronic failure.

2. Allow Wet Items to Dry

Items can be affected by water used to extinguish the flames. It is important you allow the device to completely dry before attempting to turn it on. Personal devices like cellphones or tablets can be placed in a bag of rice to help absorb any water.

3. Unplug All Appliances and Devices

Even if your device is turned off, smoke and water can damage items that are plugged in since a small amount of power if often still supplied to inactive electronics. If it is safe to do so, unplug any items that are still plugged into your home’s electrical system or notify the fire cleanup specialist.

4. Search For Warranty Records and Take Inventory of Items

If any of your electronics cannot be saved, it helps to have your warranty records on hand. This way, you can receive some money back for damaged items. Additionally, it helps to keep track of your electronics so you can give insurance an inventory of what was lost.
Many of your electronics are very valuable and some devices, such as your home computer, might contain important files and memories that are irreplaceable. These four tips ensure the best chance you can recover your electronics before the fire cleanup company arrives.