Soot Puff Back and Smoke Damage Cleanup
Soot and smoke have their own specialized cleaning processes. The discoloration and black marks along the walls that occur as a result of a fire or from a soot puff back from your furnace are made of a unique composition. Soot refers to a particular residue and can include a wide variety of materials including paint, plastics, foams, fabrics, wood products, wool or other synthetic fibers.
Because soot has such a complex makeup, it poses an incredibly dangerous respiratory health hazard. The particle size of soot is 2.5 microns, which is a size associated with deep lung penetration. This is why it is so crucial to call in the professionals at ServiceMaster South Shore in Boston, Cape Cod, and the South Shore area in Massachusetts for smoke damage and soot puff back cleanup.
Reach out to our expert teamonline or call(781) 536-7375 to schedule your smoke and soot damage restoration service.
What is Soot Puff Back?
A soot puff back is an explosion of unburned oil in the combustion chamber of an oil-fired boiler, furnace, or water heater. Puff backs happen because un-burned oil lying on or at the bottom of a heating appliance suddenly ignites. Improper oil burner operations leave incompletely-burned heating oil at the end of one or more on-off cycles of the oil burner, leaving fuel waiting to be ignited. When it does, you may hear a dramatic BANG! Then, you’ll find soot all over the place. Be aware of following common causes of soot puff back explosions:
- Leaks in the equipment oil supply piping
- Oil burner shutdown problems
- Poor oil burner maintenance
- Chimney or heat installation issues
- A sooty, smelly, or noisy oil burner operation
Soot is Corrosive
This complex composition of materials included in soot results in corrosive properties. Whatever item, material, or surface it lays on will slowly deteriorate over time. Items made of metal will tarnish, walls will discolor, and glass or mirror-like materials will etch. Plus, the oils on your hands and fingertips compound the soot and make the problem worse. We never recommend anyone attempt to clean fire or smoke damage by themselves – no matter if it’s a commercial or residential property. This is not a DIY job! You need special cleaning products and methods to properly remove the residual smoke and soot. This is when you call ServiceMaster South Shore.
We Can Help
Our cleaning techs are trained and experienced in understanding the complex properties of soot, smoke damage, and odor removal. The longer you wait, the worse the damage will become. Don’t risk it! If you hope to return your property to pre-loss condition, you must call the restoration experts at ServiceMaster South Shore as soon as you can.
Experiencing a soot puff back or smoke damage from a fire can make you feel unsure of what to do next. We provide all of our customers with a proven system that works to clean any smoke and residual soot issues on your property. ServiceMaster South Shore provides expert restoration services to both commercial businesses and residential homes in Boston, Cape Cod and the South Shore area in Massachusetts.
Looking for smoke, soot, or odor removal services near you? Contact our teamonline or call(781) 536-7375 today to schedule a service.
