Thermal Fogging
A fire restoration technique where heated deodorizer penetrates materials to neutralize odors.
Thermal fogging is a deodorization method that heats a solvent-based deodorizer into a dense fog of very fine particles, so it travels and penetrates the same way smoke did. The logic is simple: smoke got into the pores of the materials, so the deodorizer has to get into the same pores.
When it earns its place
Thermal fogging is a mid-process step, not a first move and not a cover-up. It goes after the structure has been cleaned, because fogging over uncleaned soot just locks residue in place and buys a few weeks of relief before the odor comes back. Techs typically reach for it on jobs where odor has soaked into framing, subfloor, or wall cavities and surface cleaning alone did not finish the job.
What the job actually looks like
- The building is empty. Occupants and pets are out, HVAC is off, and the structure is closed up so the fog dwells rather than escaping.
- Fire safety is handled first. The equipment runs hot and the product is petroleum based, so smoke detectors and alarm monitoring are addressed before anyone lights it off.
- Dwell then ventilate. The fog sits for a set period, then the building is aired out and re-entry happens only after it clears.
How it differs from the alternatives
Thermal fogging is a one-time treatment aimed at penetration. Hydroxyl and ozone are ongoing treatments that work on odor molecules in the air and on exposed surfaces over hours or days. Many fire jobs use a combination rather than picking one.
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