Puffbacks - Oakham, MA

1/23/2020 (Permalink)

Puffbacks - What are they?

Modern heating systems, although, up to date with technology, can still be faulty.

No matter how new or old your heating system is, when a puffback occurs, this is something that needs to be dealt with by professionals.

A puffback is an explosion inside the burner chamber of your furnace or boiler.

                Furnace – hot air systems

                Boiler – hot water systems

Puffbacks can send smoke and soot through your entire house. 

Puffbacks usually occur in oil-powered systems, in a furnace of boiler fueled with gas, the explosion is usually larger and can cause more damage.

They’re usually caused by lack of maintenance. All heating systems should be inspected and cleaned at least annually by a professional.

Puffbacks can be caused by the two electrodes inside of the burner creating the spark and igniting the oil sprayed into the chamber, to heat the home.  If these electrodes become coated with soot, the oil will fail to ignite.

The next time the burner tries to start, the excess fuel in the chamber will cause the puffback, and send smoke and soot throughout the house.

The walls, ceilings, carpets, and furniture will be coated with soot and smoke. Cleaning up this type of mess isn’t the type of job you can DIY. To get this type of mess cleaned up, you need to call professionals.

SERVPRO of Southern Worcester County will clean your home up after a puff back and make it “Like it never even happened”

(508) 234-3399 

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