If smoke or soot spread through your Houston home, keep people out of the worst rooms and don’t wipe the residue. Call (855) 727-0147 and we’ll connect you with an independent restoration company that serves Houston to assess the smoke, soot and odor.
What to do in the first 24 hours in Houston
- Wait for the all-clear. If there was a fire, stay out until the Houston Fire Department says it is safe (USFA). For city services, call 311 (713-837-0311 from some phones).
- Call your insurer and photograph every affected room, including soot inside cabinets and closets (TDI claim tips).
- Don’t wipe or scrub soot. It is oily and smears. If you vacuum loose soot, hold the nozzle above the surface and skip brush attachments (UF/IFAS).
- Turn off the heating and cooling system until it is checked, and change the filter. Running it can spread soot through the house.
- Ventilate if it is safe. Open windows and run fans when weather allows.
- Leave utilities off if firefighters shut them off. CenterPoint Energy takes power outage reports at 800-227-1376 (CenterPoint Energy).
- Throw out exposed food, including food in cans or the fridge that was exposed to fumes (USDA).
- Bag smoky clothing but don’t wash it until your adjuster has seen it, unless the restoration company advises otherwise.
Local numbers to keep handy in Houston
| Who | Why you might call | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency | Fire, injury or gas leak | 911 |
| City of Houston | City services, water problems | 311 or 713-837-0311 |
| HFD records office | Fire reports | 832-394-6860 |
| CenterPoint Energy | Power outages | 800-227-1376 |
| CenterPoint Energy | Gas leaks | 713-659-2111 or 800-752-8036 |
| Structural Inspections | Fire damage inspection before a repair permit | 832-394-8840 |
| Houston Permitting Center | Repair permits | 832-394-9000 |
| Floodplain Management Office | Floodplain homes, before any repair | 832-394-8854 |
| Harris County permits | Repairs outside city limits | 713-274-3900 |
What smoke damage restoration involves
Smoke restoration targets residue you can see and odor you can’t.
| Stage | What happens | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Residue assessment | The crew identifies dry soot, wet or protein residue, or fuel residue, and tests surfaces. | First visit |
| Dry soot removal | Vacuuming and dry chemical sponges lift loose soot before anything wet touches it. | Early in the job |
| Washing and degreasing | Cleaners matched to each residue and surface remove what is left. | Days, depending on room count |
| HVAC cleaning | Ducts and equipment are inspected and cleaned so they don’t recirculate residue. | Before the system runs full time |
| Odor treatment | Sources are removed first, then deodorizing such as thermal fogging or ozone in an empty home. | Often several rounds |
| Seal and repaint | Stain-blocking sealer stops odor and stains bleeding through new paint. | Near the end |
The industry standard is the ANSI/IICRC S700 Standard for Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration.
What it typically costs
- How far smoke traveled and how many rooms need cleaning.
- The type of residue. Protein and fuel residue take more labor than dry soot.
- Whether the HVAC system and ducts need cleaning.
- How many belongings and textiles need cleaning or deodorizing.
- Sealing and repainting.
Ozone treatments mean the house must be empty. The EPA warns ozone can damage the lungs and should only be used where no people or pets are exposed (EPA).
How does insurance work for smoke damage restoration in Texas?
Your adjuster decides what your policy covers. The restoration company documents the damage and writes the estimate the adjuster reviews. It can’t negotiate your claim for you.
- Timelines: insurers have 15 business days to acknowledge a claim, then 15 business days to accept or deny it after receiving what they need. They can take 45 more days if they explain why (TDI).
- What to photograph: every affected room, the source of the damage and damaged belongings, before cleanup.
- What the restorer documents: photos, moisture readings or residue notes, a written scope and an itemized estimate.
- Deductible: you pay it. Texas law bars contractors from offering to waive, rebate or absorb it. A contractor also can’t act as your public adjuster (TDI: know the law).
- Living expenses: if covered damage makes the home unlivable, additional living expenses coverage may pay for a hotel and meals (TDI).
Problems with a claim? Call the Texas Department of Insurance help line at 800-252-3439 or file a complaint.
What’s specific to Houston?
- A city inspection comes before the repair permit. Houston requires a fire damage inspection by its Structural Inspections Section before you can apply for a residential fire damage repair permit. Call 832-394-8840 to schedule it (Houston Permitting Center).
- Fire reports online. Houston Fire Department records can be requested through the city’s GOVQA public information portal. The records office answers at 832-394-6860, weekdays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Houston Fire Department).
- CenterPoint for gas and power lines. CenterPoint Energy Entex is the gas utility for Houston (Railroad Commission of Texas). CenterPoint lists 713-659-2111 or 800-752-8036 for gas leaks and 800-227-1376 for power outages (CenterPoint Energy).
- Most homes are rentals. About 42% of Houston’s occupied homes are owner-occupied (42.1%, U.S. Census Bureau 2020–2024 estimate), so many households need their landlord involved (Census QuickFacts).
How getting help works
When you call or send the form, we connect you with an independent restoration company that serves your area. They inspect, document the damage and give you a written scope — you decide whether to hire them.
Questions to ask the company that comes out
- Which IICRC certifications does the lead technician hold (for example WRT, FSRT, OCT or AMRT)?
- Do you carry general liability and workers’ comp insurance, and can I see the certificate?
- Will I get a written scope of work before anything starts?
- Who will talk with my insurance adjuster, and what will you send them?
- If mold is involved: what is your TDLR mold remediation license number, and who did the independent mold assessment?
Frequently asked questions
For more than light, dry soot in one area, usually yes. Greasy or protein residue and lingering odor need methods most households don’t have.
Rarely. Odor sits in fabrics, insulation, ducts and porous surfaces. It usually needs the residue removed and then deodorizing.
No. The EPA says ozone can damage the lungs. High-level ozone should only be used in an empty building, with people and pets kept out.
Tell your landlord in writing. The building is usually the owner’s responsibility, while your belongings depend on your own renters policy.
Not until it is checked. Smoke and soot get pulled into the system and can spread through the house.
Related help nearby
- Fire, smoke and water damage help in Houston
- Fire Damage Restoration in Houston
- Water Damage Restoration in Houston
- Flood Damage Cleanup in Houston
- Mold Remediation in Houston
- Harris County
- Smoke Damage Restoration: the full guide
- Soot and smoke cleanup
Get connected with a local restoration company
Free. No obligation. Prefer to talk? Call (855) 727-0147.