It's puffback season!

11/23/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians have the right equipment and training to clean your home in the event of a puffback.

It's that time of the year again!  The smell of pumpkin spice and apple pie is everywhere!  Families are planning for Thanksgiving dinner.  As the days get shorter and the nights get colder, people are lighting fires in their fireplaces and turning on their heaters.  It's also the time of year for puffbacks.

Puffbacks occur in an oil or gas heater when a boiler or furnace misfires, causing an explosion of unburned fuel in the combustion chamber. They can send an oily, smelly film throughout the home, covering walls, ceilings, carpets, furniture, and curtains.  The soot can get into closets, and even drawers!  Because the soot is petroleum based, the odor can be horrible and can be very difficult to clean.  Cleanup is best left to the professionals.  Attempting to clean it on your own can make the situation worse.

To prevent a puffback, have your heater cleaned and serviced at least once a year by a qualified technician and replace the filters regularly.  Make note of any unusual sounds or odors.  If you have experienced a puffback, call your HVAC professional immediately to have your heater cleaned and repaired, then contact SERVPRO of Media to begin the cleaning process.  We can make it “Like it never even happened.”