As we get closer to the end of the year, colder weather is heading our way. As soon as it hits 65 degrees, everyone rushes to turn on their heating systems. It’s likely that it’s been a while since you have used your furnace to heat your home, especially with the heat this past summer. If you have an oil or gas furnace or boiler system, you may run into the issue of a puffback when you decide to turn on the heat and warm your residence. 

What Is A Puffback? 

A puffback is a discharge of smoke, soot, and other debris from a furnace or boiler that occurs due to a misfire. The puffback usually causes black, oily, web-like soot to be distributed throughout the property via the heating exhaust system. This is caused by an improper ignition in a furnace or boiler. When there is an ignition issue, excess gas accumulates in the combustion chamber. Each time the furnace does not ignite correctly, more fuel will build up in the chamber and will not be released until a successful ignition occurs. The more fuel that has accumulated in the chamber, the bigger the explosion will be, which can cause a larger amount of soot damage in your home.

How To Prevent Puffbacks

The best way to prevent puffbacks from occurring is to have regular maintenance done for your furnace or boiler. This will ensure that it stays in tip-top shape and that any issues can be addressed right away. It's best to have such maintenance done before the cold weather hits as this is when it will be used most frequently.

Should the worst happen and you experience puffback, contact TRI immediately as the soot and smoke residue must be cleaned as soon as possible. Soot is a toxic and corrosive substance that is harmful to your property and hazardous to your health. Given enough time, the resulting soot damage will become permanent, so don’t hesitate to address the puffback damage. TRI offers house cleaning, dry cleaning, and smoke removal. For around the clock help with your fire and smoke emergencies, call us at 516-333-5333!