A furnace puff back, also known as an “oil burner backfire” occurs when the ignition system of an oil-burning furnace malfunctions, or a clogged gas ignition systems ejects built up carbon and causes a small explosion or “backfire”. The force of this event can quickly spread smoke, soot, and oily residue throughout the home, clinging to walls, furniture, drapery, and clothing. Sometimes the disbursement of soot is so light and fine it appears to be ordinary dust, and sometimes the only way to see the soot is with a chem sponge. However, without professional cleaning, this “dust” will reappear and cause further damage.
Heating devices that can have a “Puff Back or “Backfire”Â
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Oil Furnace Puff Back
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Coal Stove Puff Back
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Fireplace Puff Back
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Gas Ignition Systems Puff Back
How Much Damage Can a Puff Back Cause?
The amount of damage that a puff back can cause depends on the type of heater, the amount of fuel that gets ignited in the combustion chamber, and what caused the puff back to occur.
- A minor puff back is normally isolated to one to two rooms max and can be cleaned (for the most part) the same day.
- A severe puff back can release soot throughout your entire home or business and cause damage to heater components.
The distance soot can spread after it gets expelled from the heater or boiler is determined by several factors including (but not limited to) structure and layout of the building and how the HVAC ducts are routed, plus — a puff back that occurs in a forced-air heating system is typically the most damaging, as the extensive ductwork allows soot to travel to the entire house, it’s also important to have the inside of the duct worked cleaned to prevent recontamination of the cleaned areas.Â
PREVENT FURNACE PUFF BACK |What to do if a furnace puff back has occurred:
Do not attempt to clean carpets, upholstered furniture, wallpaper, or flat-painted walls Incorrect cleaning will compound the problem.Â
Avoid touching anything. Soot on your hands can permeate upholstery, walls, and woodwork, making things much worse.
Notify your insurance agency/company right away.
Contact an experienced restoration contractor who is an expert in puff back mitigation as soon as possible. The cleaning process should be immediate to prevent further damage and limit insurance claim amounts.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS of WORKING WITH PAUL DAVIS?
INSURANCE AGENT BENEFITS | Assign a ClaimÂ
- Cost savings
- Improved productivity
- Complete documentation to help you close claims faster
- Satisfied customers
POLICY HOLDER BENEFITS | Assign a ClaimÂ
- Fast response
- Less disruption
- Quality repairs
- Insurance claims assistance
Here at Paul Davis, we use the latest technology and techniques to repair and restore the damage caused by puff backs. We treat contents such as carpets, art, clothing, drapery, furniture, and other items using sophisticated ozone equipment and thoroughly remove the stains and odors associated with puff backs and other fire-related damage.Â
Tip from a pro |FURNACE PUFF BACK
You should try to keep debris, animal hair, or anything that could interfere with its proper functioning away from your gas furnace or oil burner, and make sure that the oil filters are clean, the boiler has enough water, the auto feed is working, and that the igniter is in good-working condition.
You could also reduce the risk of a puff back by having your furnace inspected, annually, and kept in good repair.
All Paul Davis offices are certified in Applied Structural Drying (ASD). ASD maximizes the removal of water from building materials using scientific methods and specialized equipment. This approach uses the proper combination of air movement, temperature control, humidity control and dehumidification to quickly remove moisture with little disturbance to the structure or contents. ASD allows us to save building materials (including drywall, carpets and padding) and, in most cases, dry affected areas in as few as 3 days.
