What is a Puff Back?

11/1/2021 (Permalink)

What is a Puff Back?

A puff back is an explosion that forces soot and debris through the furnace or the boiler's exhaust system and into your home or business. 

The good news is that most puff back cleanups are covered by insurance. Our professionals here at SERVPRO of North Huntington can walk you through the claim process step by step and make it "Like it never even happened.” In fact, our customers often tell us that their properties look and smell cleaner than before!

During a puff back event, soot typically covers most areas of the property including: drapes, bedding, furniture, clothing, cabinetry, ceilings, walls and floors, all of which is extremely difficult to remove. Soot coverage can range from a light dusting to a concentrated dark appearance especially on flat surfaces like counter tops. While you may be tempted to clean the affected area yourself, we don’t recommend it. The soot will settle and re-appear hours afterwards and can cause additional damage. Don’t be fooled that the dust/soot is only where you see it. It travels everywhere that the air does—into every nook and cranny. Sometimes you will find what you think are black “spider webs” in the corners of a room. These marks are actually a collection of the sticky soot.

At SERVPRO of North Huntington, we have the appropriate equipment, knowledge and experience to properly get the job done. We are here to help!