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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

A Puff Back is when your heating system misfires.

5/6/2022 (Permalink)

Have you ever heard the term Puff Back? This term is used when your heating system misfires. If your heating system is not regularly cleaned, the unburned fuel may accumulate in the combustion chamber, causing it to misfire.

When the heating system has a "puff back" soot is released into the air through your heating system. Buildings and contents can be damaged as well as the heating system. This puff back could cause the stack pipe from being disconnected allowing even more soot to enter your home. As oil creates more soot than gas, the damage created by an oil furnace can be more severe. However, gas furnaces can also allow puff backs to occur.

When a puff back occurs it can allow soot to collect on your ceilings, walls, carpets as well as inside your heating vents. And of course all of your belongings inside your home.


Puff back prevention is essential to all homeowners as it can be expensive and often is not covered by your insurance. Be sure to have your furnace checked every year before firing it up.

Insist on getting the cleanup of a puff back done by professionals, SERVPRO can help.

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