Contact The Steam Team in North Austin
Our restoration crews come to you, day or night, anywhere in West Lake Hills and the surrounding communities we serve. Call our North Austin restoration line at any hour to get a crew dispatched to your property. You're also welcome at our 9901 Burnet Rd office to drop off insurance paperwork, meet with our team about your claim, or tour our restoration facility. Spanish-speaking staff is available.
About Our Advanced Deodorization in West Lake Hills
Odors from fire, water, and mold don't leave on their own, because they are held in the materials around you. Most calls start with one of these:
Odors from a sewage backup or contaminated water that regular cleaning doesn't remove
Smoke odor that lingers in walls, ceilings, and soft surfaces after a fire has been cleaned up
A store, office, or restaurant that cannot reopen comfortably because customers notice the odor
A kitchen or electrical fire that was cleaned up, but the smell stayed in the room
Advanced deodorization is the process of removing odor at its source instead of covering it, using equipment and treatments such as hydroxyl generators, ozone treatment, and antimicrobial fogging. It is used after fire and smoke damage, water damage, mold, and sewage events, and it works best as part of the restoration itself.
Get the smell out of your property for good, not just for a few days. The Steam Team's IICRC-certified technicians work through four stages:
Source inspection. A technician locates where the odor is coming from, including hidden moisture or residue behind surfaces.
Cleaning and source removal. Affected surfaces are cleaned and materials that can't be saved are removed, so the odor isn't left in the structure.
Treatment. Hydroxyl generators, ozone treatment, or antimicrobial fogging are chosen to match the odor source and the space.
Verification. The crew checks that the odor is gone before the job is closed, and treats again where it is not.
What You Get With Every Deodorization Job
IICRC Certified Firm (Registration #70666), certified in Odor Control and in Fire & Smoke Restoration
Treatment matched to the cause, whether that is smoke, moisture, mold, or a sewage backup
Antimicrobial treatment, backed by a Texas-licensed mold remediation contractor, if mold is the source
Odor control coordinated with fire, water, and mold restoration in one process
Claim documentation for insurers, including State Farm, Allstate, USAA, Farmers, and Liberty Mutual
Locally owned and serving Austin since 1983
What Does Advanced Deodorization Include?
Advanced deodorization includes locating the odor source, cleaning affected surfaces, removing materials that can't be saved, and treating the space with hydroxyl generators, ozone, or antimicrobial fogging. In West Lake Hills, The Steam Team performs it alongside fire, water, and mold restoration, so the cause of the odor is fixed at the same time as the smell.
How Quickly Should Odors Be Addressed?
Odors should be addressed as soon as the cause is found. Smoke residue and moisture soak into drywall, insulation, carpet, and upholstery, and the longer they stay, the harder the smell is to remove. The EPA notes mold can begin growing on damp materials within 24 to 48 hours, which adds a second source of odor.
Does Insurance Cover Odor Removal After Fire or Water Damage in West Lake Hills?
Many Texas homeowner and commercial policies include odor removal as part of a covered fire or water loss, though coverage depends on the policy and the cause. Your adjuster decides coverage. The Steam Team documents the source of the odor, the areas treated, and the work performed to support your claim with carriers such as State Farm, Allstate, and USAA.
Odors in West Lake Hills Properties: What Property Owners Should Watch For
A persistent smell is usually the visible sign of a problem that is still in the structure. These are the signs and missteps our technicians see most often.
When to Call a Deodorization Professional
Smoke odor that remains after the cleanup. It is usually held in porous materials such as drywall, insulation, and upholstery, and we treat it at the source.
A sour or sewage smell after a backup. We handle it as contaminated water, using protective protocols and antimicrobial treatment before deodorizing.
A smell concentrated in one room or closet. We trace it to its source instead of treating the whole property blindly.
A lingering smell in a business after a leak or fire. We inspect and treat quickly, so the space is ready to reopen sooner.
An odor that returns after you have cleaned the area. This points to a source still in the structure, which we trace and remove.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Covering the smell with air fresheners or candles. They mask odor for a few hours while the source keeps producing it, so we remove the source.
Waiting for the smell to fade. Odor molecules settle into porous materials over time, so we treat early whenever we can.
Ignoring a musty smell. It usually means moisture, so we check for water damage and mold before deodorizing.
Cleaning only the surface and not the materials behind it. Odor sits in drywall, insulation, and padding, so we remove or treat what holds it.
Going back into a treated space too soon. After ozone treatment the space must stay unoccupied, so we tell you when it is safe to return.
What Our Clients Say
“You know that funky odor you can get even after opening all the windows? It's gone.”
“The Steam Team has been nothing short of amazing every time I have called them. I love that they are local, and their personnel all know what they are doing”
Other Services in West Lake Hills
Odors almost always come with another problem underneath. Here's how the rest of our restoration services can help.
Structural Drying
Pull trapped moisture out of walls, flooring, and framing so damp materials stop producing odor.
Structural Drying in West Lake Hills →
Mold Remediation
Remove mold with containment, HEPA filtration, and antimicrobial treatment, and correct the moisture that caused the smell.
Mold Remediation in West Lake Hills →
Fine Art Restoration
Protect artwork exposed to smoke or musty air with documentation, safe handling, and climate-controlled storage.
Fine Art Restoration in West Lake Hills →
Fire Damage Restoration
Recover from fire, smoke, and soot damage, then treat the smoke odor that remains in walls, ceilings, and soft surfaces.
Fire Damage Restoration in West Lake Hills →
Water Damage Restoration
Extract water, locate hidden moisture, and dry the structure so a musty smell has no source left to come from.
Water Damage Restoration in West Lake Hills →
Emergency Response
Get a crew on site any hour to stabilize your property after a flood, fire, or sewage event before odors set in.
Emergency Response in West Lake Hills →
Awards & Certifications
The Steam Team holds the following restoration certifications, licenses, and industry recognition.
Certifications and licenses
IICRC Certified Firm, Registration #70666 — Water Damage Restoration (WRT), Applied Structural Drying (ASD), Fire & Smoke Restoration (FSRT), Applied Microbial Remediation (AMRT), Odor Control (OCT)
Texas Mold Remediation Contractor License (TDLR), #RCO1264
EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm, License NAT-56770-4
OSHA HAZWOPER Safety Certification
DKI — 10 Year Distinguished Member
Awards
Golden Hammer Award — Water Damage Restoration (2011, 2012, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Austin American-Statesman "Best of the Best" — Water Damage Restoration Services (2018–2025)
Westlake Business of the Year (2026)
Ratings and memberships
BBB A+ Rating, BBB Accredited Business
Restoration Industry Association (RIA) Member
Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Member
International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Member
What Makes West Lake Hills Different for Advanced Deodorization
In West Lake Hills, TX, moisture from storms and from stone-lined foundations is a common source of musty odors.
Sudden downpours after dry stretches. Summers here are hot and dry, with sudden heavy rain events. A downpour that finds its way indoors leaves damp materials behind, and mold growth, which the EPA notes can begin within 24 to 48 hours, is a common source of the musty odors we treat.
Stone hardscaping near foundations. Limestone and natural stone placed close to foundation walls can trap moisture against exterior walls. That moisture can feed a smell that returns after cleaning, so we trace the odor to its source and dry the wall before deodorizing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a musty smell get worse after rain?
It often means moisture is entering through a wall, foundation, or stone-lined area and keeping materials damp. We trace the path, dry the structure, and treat the space.
Is ozone treatment safe for my home?
Ozone treatment is done in an unoccupied space and is matched to the odor source. Your technician explains when it is safe to return, and The Steam Team's Odor Control certification covers the methods it uses.
Will the smell come back after deodorization?
It shouldn't, because the source is removed or treated first. If the odor is coming from hidden moisture or mold, that cause is dried or remediated as part of the job, so the smell has nothing left to return from.
Can stone landscaping near my foundation cause odor inside?
It can contribute, because stone placed close to a wall can trap moisture against it. If that moisture reaches the interior of the wall, it can feed a musty smell, so we dry the wall before deodorizing.
Can odor be removed without replacing carpet or drywall?
Sometimes. Materials with only surface odor can be cleaned and treated, while heavily soaked or contaminated materials are removed so the smell is not left in the structure. Your technician explains which applies after the source inspection.
