Many have never heard of a puff back. A puff back occurs when an oil burner backfires, sending soot throughout your home or business. It can happen all at once (like a balloon popping) or more gradually (as if someone was holding the end of a balloon and letting the air seep out slowly). When a puff back happens, soot covers all areas of the property and may range from light to very heavy. Sometimes the disbursement of soot is so light and fine it appears to be ordinary dust. This “dust” however reappears hours after being cleaned. There is often a strong odor of oil accompanying a puff back.
How can I clean a puff back?
Because the soot contains petroleum, trying to clean the film of soot off of your furniture & walls with ordinary soap & water will actually smear the soot around without removing it. Professional restoration contractors use specially formulated commercial cleaning agents to remove the soot.
How can I avoid a puff back in my home?
Having your oil furnace checked and cleaned annually by a service technician is the best insurance against experiencing this unfortunate event in your home or business. If a puff back does occur, we are prepared and ready to professionally restore your property to its original condition.
