Fire-Damaged Electronics and Applianceswhat to do before you plug anything in

Smoke particles are small enough to get inside televisions, computers, game consoles, routers and appliances through their vents. Inside, they settle on circuit boards, connectors and fans. Smoke residue is often acidic and can be slightly conductive, so over days and weeks it can corrode contacts and create tiny paths for current where there should be none.

Heat adds its own damage, softening plastics and stressing solder joints. Water from firefighting, or humidity in a closed, wet house, accelerates corrosion. A device that worked the day after the fire can fail weeks later as corrosion progresses.

If a computer, external drive or phone holds important files, think about the data before the device. Even if the device is beyond repair, storage can often be recovered. Do not power on a smoky computer to copy files; ask a data recovery or electronics restoration specialist to handle it.

Phones and laptops have lithium-ion batteries that can be damaged by heat. If a phone or laptop is swollen, hot or smells of burning, leave it alone and keep it away from flammable materials.

Electronics restoration specialists open devices, clean circuit boards with appropriate solutions, dry them, and test them. This can rescue valuable equipment such as home theater systems or computers. For small, everyday devices, replacement is usually simpler.

Kitchen appliances are cleaned inside and out where possible. Refrigerators and freezers that absorbed smoke smell into their plastic liners and seals are often replaced, as the odor can be impossible to remove.

Gas ranges, dryers and water heaters exposed to fire, heat or water should be checked by a qualified technician before use. In Arlington, gas is supplied by Atmos Energy; if you smell gas, leave the house and call 911 or the gas company from outside. Electrical appliances should not be used until the circuits that feed them have been checked by a licensed electrician.

Many households now run a home office with a desktop computer, monitors, printer, network equipment and backup drives. If you work from home, losing this equipment to smoke can stop your income as well as your files. Tell your employer if work devices were affected; employer-owned equipment usually has its own process for replacement or repair.

For your own business equipment, check whether your homeowner policy covers it or whether it needs a separate business policy. Keep a list of make, model and age for each device.

Built-in equipment needs inspection too. The furnace or air handler, often in the attic or garage in Arlington homes, may have drawn in smoke and soot that coats its blower and coil. Water heaters in garages are frequently close to garage fires. Smoke detectors, security panels, doorbells and thermostats may be coated in residue or damaged by heat.

Have a licensed HVAC contractor inspect heating and cooling equipment before it is used again, and replace smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that were exposed to fire or heavy smoke.