Odor Removal & Deodorization

Smoke odor is the most common call we get. Smoke travels through open doors, wall cavities and the air conditioning system, and leaves residue in rooms far from the fire. Because Florida homes run their AC most of the year, smoke odor often ends up in every room and inside the ductwork. Removing it takes three things: cleaning the soot from surfaces, removing materials that cannot be cleaned, such as smoke-saturated insulation, and then treating the remaining odor with thermal fogging, hydroxyl generators or ozone. Our fire and smoke damage cleanup page covers the full process.

We match the equipment to the odor, the materials and whether people need to stay in the building.

A thermal fogger heats a deodorizing solution into a fine fog that travels the same way smoke does, into wall cavities, fabric and other porous materials, and neutralizes odor where it sits. It is especially effective for smoke odor after a fire.

Hydroxyl generators use UV light to create hydroxyl radicals, the same molecules that clean the air outdoors, and break down odor-causing compounds. They are safe to use while people are in the building, so they work well for occupied homes, offices and healthcare facilities.

Ozone is a strong oxidizer that destroys odor molecules and many bacteria on contact. It is used only in empty, sealed spaces, followed by an airing-out period before anyone goes back in. It is reserved for severe smoke, decomposition and mold odors that resist other treatments.

For biological odors such as urine, decomposition and sewage, enzyme products are applied to the affected subfloor, concrete or framing, where they break down the organic material causing the smell.

Odor removal only lasts when the source is found and removed first. That is why every job follows the same steps.

We use moisture meters, thermal imaging and a careful inspection to find which materials are holding the odor. Deodorizing without removing the source only works for a few days.

Contaminated materials such as smoke-saturated insulation, urine-soaked subfloor or moldy drywall are removed, or cleaned with the right method for the contaminant. This removes most of the odor.

One or more deodorization methods are used, depending on the odor, the materials and whether the space is occupied. Treatment takes anywhere from a few hours to several days.

If the air conditioning ran while the odor was present, the ductwork and air handler can keep spreading it. We clean or replace HVAC components as needed so the smell does not return.

We confirm the odor is gone through follow-up checks with you. For insurance claims, we document the treatment and the timeline.

These are the questions people ask us most about getting rid of a smell for good.

For a small fire, cleaning and deodorizing often take a few days to a week. Larger fires, where materials have to be removed and the HVAC system cleaned, take longer.

An odor that returns, often on humid days, usually means the source was never removed. Residue in insulation, subfloor, ductwork or wall cavities keeps releasing odor until it is cleaned out or replaced.

Ozone is safe when it is used correctly: only in a vacant, sealed space, with people, pets and plants out of the building, and with an airing-out period afterward. When people need to stay, we use hydroxyl generators instead.

When the odor comes from a covered loss, such as a fire or a sudden water or sewage event, deodorization is usually part of the claim. We document the work for your adjuster.

WrightWay provides professional odor removal and deodorization across Southwest Florida, including Sarasota, Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Venice, Nokomis, Englewood, North Port, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs and Naples.

Call (941) 379-8669 to schedule an odor assessment, or report your loss online.