A furnace puffback is when your heating system expels smoke and soot into your living space. This residue can cover furniture, clothing, and even your cabinets and closets.

Cold weather has hit many parts of the United States, and many folks rely on furnaces or boilers to warm their homes. But if these furnaces aren’t adequately maintained, they can cause issues like furnace puffbacks. These puffbacks can spread soot around your home, making it messy, potentially harming your health, and even damaging your belongings.

What is a Furnace Puffback?

A puffback is when your heating system expels smoke and soot into your living space. This residue can cover furniture, clothing, and even your cabinets and closets. It can also create a strong, unpleasant smell throughout your home. Puffbacks happen because the furnace isn’t burning fuel properly, so some of the resulting soot escapes into your living area.

Causes of Furnace Puffbacks

Improper Combustion Settings. Puffbacks occur when the furnace’s combustion chamber settings are not correct.
Incomplete Fuel Burning. Incorrect settings lead to fuel not burning completely, resulting in unburned energy.
Ventilation Issues. The unburned energy travels into your home through the ventilation system and causes a malfunction.
Fuel-Oxygen Imbalance. Efficient combustion requires a balanced mixture of fuel and oxygen, and when that isn’t at- tained, it can lead to issues within the furnace.
Steady Flame vs. Unburned Fuel. Proper mixture produces a steady flame and tiny smoke particles that exit via the chimney. Inadequate mixing causes unburned fuel to enter your living space.

Dealing with Furnace Puffbacks

Puffbacks typically result in messes and damaged property, making them quite a nuisance. However, there are things you can do to alleviate the stress of dealing with them:

HVAC Technician Service. In the event of furnace trouble causing a puffback, contact a professional HVAC technician to service your heating system.
Professional Restoration. Puffback cleanup often requires specialized restoration services. Reputable companies like PuroClean have the equipment and know-how to safely and effectively clean up after a puffback.
Assessment and Methods. Restoration experts assess the situation and use various techniques to remove the soot and residue effectively.
Duct Cleaning. As part of the process, the ducts should be thoroughly cleaned before restarting the heating system to prevent further issues.
Preventing Recurrence. To minimize the risk of future puffbacks, consider having your furnace inspected and cleaned by a qualified HVAC technician at least once a year.
Ensuring Proper Function. Regular maintenance ensures your furnace operates correctly and decreases the chances of distributing furnace residue throughout your home.

Have You Been Affected by Property Damage? Call PuroClean Today!

Not sure who to turn to for issues like fire or smoke damage in your home? Contact PuroClean! As “The Paramedics of Property DamageTM,” we are dedicated to diligently addressing these problems and more. We are committed to using our expertise and state-of-the-art equipment to initiate a comprehensive restoration process, aiming to return your property to its pre-loss state as quickly as possible. Please call us at (781) 486-3200 to get in touch with PuroClean of Wakefield!