What Is Furnace Puff Back?

What It Is

You ever turn on your furnace and have clouds of oily soot pour from vents throughout your home? That’s called a puff back.

If you’ve got an oil-fired furnace puff backs can occur when residual oil and debris in your furnace combust as the system ignites. The resulting soot can leave an oily film on your ceilings, walls, furniture, and other belongings.

Puff backs can also happen with oil-fired boilers and water heaters. Appliances that are gas-fired can experience puff backs when the systems do not vent sufficiently.

How to Avoid It

The easiest way to prevent puff backs is to perform routine maintenance on your furnace and other heating appliances. They should be cleaned and serviced by an HVAC pro on an annual basis, and definitely before you turn them on for the fall and winter seasons.

Aside from the smoke and soot caused by puff backs, signs that your heating unit needs attention can include noises from your furnace after it has stopped, oil leaking from piping, and strange odors.

Can I Clean Puff Back Residue Myself?

Due to the oily nature of the soot discharged by puff backs, cleaning the mess can be a dirty task that, if not done properly, can leave a lingering odor in your home and residue on your ceilings, walls, light fixtures, floors, cabinets, tables, curtains, and furniture.

A professional restoration company will use specialized products and cleaning techniques to properly treat your home and get things back to normal.

They’ll remove soot from hard surfaces, and odors that have settled into furniture, carpets, and rugs. Soft items like curtains, clothes, and stuffed animals can also be treated. Pros will also clean your duct system to make sure your air quality and ventilation are safe.

Our teams have the expertise to restore your home after the effects of appliance puff backs.

Do You Need a Disaster Remediation Expert in Washtenaw County or Jackson County?

If your home has already been damaged, we can help. Check out our services and call 734-352-9183 for your free disaster remediation quote today. We offer: