My TV and laptop look fine but smell like smoke
After a fire, a device can sit on the shelf looking almost normal. The damage is inside. Soot drifts in through the vents, and computers and game consoles pull in even more with their cooling fans. That residue keeps eating at the metal parts long after the fire is out, and wiping off the outside does nothing to stop it.
It's tempting to plug everything in to see what still works. Hold off. Powering up a device full of soot or moisture can turn something restorable into something ruined. Leave it where it is until it has been checked.
Cleaning electronics with water sounds crazy
It surprises most people, but the safest way to get soot and grime out of a device is a carefully controlled wash. In CRDN's process, each item is taken apart if needed and goes through four steps: a prewash, an ultrasonic cleaning that reaches into the tiniest spaces, a rinse in deionized water, and a drying chamber.
Deionized water has had its minerals removed, so it barely conducts electricity or leave spots as it dries. That's why running tap water through a laptop at home is a bad idea and this process is not. It was built for electronics from the start.
Keeping your own computer, files and all
Replacing a family computer means more than buying a new box. Your photos, documents, and settings live on that machine. When a device can be restored, it usually comes back to you with all of that still on it.
Restoring also tends to cost less than replacing, which is why insurance companies support it. Before anything is cleaned, your devices are tested, so you know which ones are worth restoring and which aren't. CRDN teams use a mobile testing cart that checks a wide range of devices, which helps your claim move faster.
Losing track of every device in the house
Between TVs, laptops, tablets, game systems, and smart speakers, most homes hold more electronics than anyone can list from memory after a fire. Our Akron team catalogs each one before it leaves your home, and it's logged and tracked again when it arrives for cleaning.
That record does two jobs. You and your adjuster can see exactly which devices were taken and where each one stands. And anything that can't be saved is already documented, so it doesn't quietly fall off your claim. When your home is ready, your restored electronics come back to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I plug in my devices to see if they still work?
No. Powering up a device full of soot or moisture can turn something restorable into something ruined. Leave it where it is until it has been checked.
Will I lose my photos and files?
When a device can be restored, it usually comes back to you with your photos, documents, and settings still on it.
How do you know which devices are worth restoring?
Every device is tested before it's cleaned, so you know which ones are worth restoring and which aren't. CRDN teams use a mobile testing cart that checks a wide range of devices, which helps your claim move faster.
Will insurance pay for electronics restoration?
If your policy includes personal property coverage, electronics restoration is usually part of the claim. Restoring typically costs less than replacing, which is why insurers support it. Coverage limits and deductibles vary, so check your own policy.
What if a device can't be saved?
It's documented before anything else happens, so it doesn't quietly fall off your claim.
Locally owned and operated by Jeff Sitz and Brian Rick from our Akron office at 1477 Copley Rd.