We even talked about prevention – because the best way to deal with a puffback is to make sure you never have one.
But, we didn’t talk about what to do if you get a puff back.
A Furnace puff back in this Roebling home caused a sooty mess!
So, here are the 7 steps you need to take to protect yourself if you have a puff back:
1. Safety first: Make sure you call 911. A puffback is an explosion or mis-firing in the heating system. You want the fire department to check and make sure it’s nothing more serious and that the fire is contained to the heating unit, and that it’s out completely.
2. Shut off the power to the heating system. There’s usually a main power switch, and it’s usually red, located close to the entrance of the area where the furnace is located (i.e., the basement or utility room). Make sure everyone in your home or office knows where this switch is!
The soot from a furnace puffback goes everywhere -walls, ceilings and floors in this North Philadelphia home
4. On your way out, unplug computers, printers, fax machines and televisions – anything electronic. Because the oily soot from a puffback permeates everything, it will damage hard drives, computer chips, and other electronic components. All these devices must be professionally cleaned before using them again – or you will end up needing to replace them.
5. Once the fire department has determined that your home or business is safe to re-enter, call your furnace repair company to clean the system and repair the cause of the puffback. Please don’t try to turn on the furnace before taking this step! You could cause more damage and put yourself in jeopardy of an even bigger fire.
Soot from a puff back contaminates everything – even the food in the kitchen cabinets!
7. Because the oily soot from a puff back contains carcinogens, and because it will cover every surface, and fill all the cracks and crevices in your home or office, don’t try to clean it yourself.
Call an experienced property damage restoration company that specializes in fire and smoke damage mitigation! 877-750-7876
Because while a puff back isn’t as dramatic as a fire, it poses some of the same health risks to animals, people, and properties.
Textiles like clothing, carpets and curtains need to be professionally cleaned by a company that is experienced with fire and smoke damage restoration because simply laundering them won’t remove the oily mess.
Walls and floors will need to be cleaned with special care so that the soot (and the smell!) doesn’t get embedded permanently. And no, you can’t just paint over it. The greasy soot will prevent the paint from sticking!
The oily soot from a puff back can damage glass and metal within hours
Metal and glass need to have the oily residue removed fast so that windows and fixtures aren’t permanently corroded or etched.
In short, after a puff back, everything needs a detailed, systematic cleaning by a property damage restoration company with the know how and experience to do the job right.
PuroClean Emergency Recovery Services specializes in fire and smoke damage restoration.
[…] and chimneys should be serviced at least once a year to prevent fire and smoke damage – and puff backs! 8. Remove combustible items placed near any heart sources. This includes wood stoves and space […]