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Puffback Cleaning

Burned wall

Is your home heated by an oil furnace or burner? If so, it could be vulnerable to a puff back. A puff back occurs when an oil burner backfires, sending soot throughout your home, covering drapes, bedding, furniture, cabinets, walls, and everything in between. It can happen all at once, like a balloon popping, or more gradually, as if someone was holding the end of a balloon and letting the air seep out slowly.

Although there is no guaranteed way to prevent a puff back, but annual inspection and maintenance of your oil burner or furnace can greatly reduce your risk.

If a puff back occurs at your home, soot can cover every surface and may range from light to very heavy. Sometimes the disbursement of soot is so light and fine it appears to be ordinary dust. However, this "dust" reappears hours after being cleaned. There is often a strong odor of oil accompanying a puff back.

If your home of business experiences a puffback, you should:

  • Notify your insurance agent immediately
  • Call ServiceMaster Restore to begin cleaning all affected areas immediately

If your home or business experiences a puffback, you should not:

  • Donot attempt to wash wallpaper or flat-painted walls, as improper cleaning will further compound the soot residue
  • Do not use retail cleaning solutions or soap. These will only smear and spread the soot, not fully remove it
  • Do not try to clean carpets and upholstered furniture
  • Avoid touching items in the home. Soot on hands can easily permeate upholstery, walls and woodwork, causing additional damage

Don’t wait! Soot travels and will reappear if not immediately removed. ServiceMaster Recovery By Close is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you when experiencing a puffback.

Please complete the form to the right for additional information. If you need immediate assistance, please contact us at (585) 699-1261. We offer emergency services, quick response time, and work with all major insurance companies. ServiceMaster Recovery By Close is here to assist you and restore your property back to its original state.