What is a Soot Web?

9/3/2019 (Permalink)

This soot tag formed on the ceiling of this home's porch!

If you’ve ever been in a home or building that had recently had a fire, you may have noticed several webs hanging in ceiling corners. At first glance, they appear to be cobwebs covered in soot. In fact, most of our customers will make comments about their poor cleaning skills. Fortunately, these “webs” aren’t actually webs at all.

Also known as soot tags, soot webs are features that form when ionized soot particles cling and stick together. These soot particles are generally found in ceiling corners—where air and surfaces are cooler. If you see soot webs in your home, refrain from touching them because they are very sticky.

While we hope you never encounter a soot web in your home, rest assured you it’s not the sign of the sneaky spider. Instead, call our fire damage restoration team to make the fire “Like it never even happened.”