Puffbacks, the release of smoke and soot that occur when a furnace or boiler misfires, are a common insurance claim over the cold weather season. Messy and occasionally dangerous, this improper ignition resulting from oil or gas buildup can create anything from a small puff a smoke, to a minor explosion. This damage is unfortunately not covered by the typical homeowner’s policy, however puffbacks are easily preventable with proper service and maintenance.
Common Puffback Causes that Put Your Home & Family At-Risk
- Combustion leaks
These allow fuel to buildup, resulting in puffbacks on ignition. - Exhaust/chimney clogs
Dirt, dust, fuel residue, rust, corrosion, and pest and animal obstructions that prevent the proper venting of your home heating system can easily result in pressure irregularities that lead to air/fuel imbalances and puffback. - Cracked heat exchanger
The dynamics of this issue, similar to clogs, cause internal pressure irregularities that can lead to a flame rolling out of your furnace from excess fuel. - Damaged oil fuel nozzle
Clogs or cracks in this nozzle spraying fuel unevenly or insufficiently create a situation where excess oil builds up in the burner over time, eventually igniting to result in a puffback. - Clogged burner
Dust, dirt, rust, corrosion and fuel residue can cause a misfire, creating excess fuel buildup in the combustion chamber and eventually leading to puffback when fuel eventually ignites. - Frequent manual resets
Leading to an overabundance of fuel in the chamber and subsequent puffback.
How Can You Prevent Puffbacks?
Regular, professional HVAC inspection and maintenance can help you detect puffback problems before they occur….
Regular, professional HVAC inspection and maintenance can help you detect puffback problems before they occur….
- Identifying fuel leaks in/around the combustion chamber or in the lines that could lead to puffbacks.
- Checking and clearing dirt, buildup, and obstructions in the venting/flue that can adversely affect the fuel-to-air ratio of your furnace or boiler and prevent it from venting dangerous carbon monoxide gases.
- Performing a ‘candle check,’ using a lit flame near the heat exchanger while the blower is operating, to identify/verify the presence of cracks in the heat exchanger that can result in puffbacks and potentially deadly carbon monoxide leaks.
- Check the oil nozzle and burner assembly for damage that can lead to puffback.
Not a DIY Endeavor
Though well-intentioned, furnace and boiler inspections are not a DIY job. Always get a trained HVAC professional to inspect and tune-up your gas or oil heater or boiler. Make sure your chosen professional is licensed and insured, as the safety of your home – and more importantly your family – rests in the hands of these technicians. Look to HVAC company reviews when choosing one who to hire for this essential service. The best HVAC companies will provide a tune-up that includes essential parts such as the burner assembly, nozzle, oil filter and fuel pump strainer, as well as a thorough safety test for odorless, colorless carbon monoxide.
Though well-intentioned, furnace and boiler inspections are not a DIY job. Always get a trained HVAC professional to inspect and tune-up your gas or oil heater or boiler. Make sure your chosen professional is licensed and insured, as the safety of your home – and more importantly your family – rests in the hands of these technicians. Look to HVAC company reviews when choosing one who to hire for this essential service. The best HVAC companies will provide a tune-up that includes essential parts such as the burner assembly, nozzle, oil filter and fuel pump strainer, as well as a thorough safety test for odorless, colorless carbon monoxide.
Fight back against puffbacks and ensure the safety of your family. Schedule your annual maintenance and safety inspection with H&H Heating & Air Conditioning today.
It’s common knowledge that excessively humid air can result in mold and mildew growth that creates an unhealthy home environment for you and your family. But many disregard the equally detrimental consequences of air in the home that is too dry. There’s a reason the desert is barren and the rainforest teeming with life. Humidity levels must be just right to protect the health of your home and its inhabitants.
Looking for optimal efficiency in your next HVAC system? 
temperature preferences, programming itself and switching the system off if no movement is detected for 2 hours. Once activity is detected, your HVAC system is again reactivated. Like the Honeywell, all settings can be overridden at the device or remotely via Apple or Android app via your properly registered thermostat account. Connected to your home’s Wi-Fi network for quick, convenient adjustments and programming or voice operable via Amazon Alexa, a green leaf on the NEST screen denotes the perfect balance between temperature and energy savings, with easily accessible energy usage reports denoting efficiency.
ter the device, and connect your thermostat to your wireless network, following the short, 15 minute guided setup process. Override everything manually on the 2.5 x 2.5-inch touchscreen or program via Wi-Fi from any location, scheduling for specific days, applying the same schedule for the week, setting a vacation schedule in advance or enabling smart response features such as high and low temperature alerts. Love tech? Integrate the Lyric with IFTTT, Apple’s HomeKit, Amazon’s Echo, or setup for verbal temperature adjustment via Siri or Alexa. The Lyric will track and learn your preferred temperatures and scheduling, as well the amount of time your home’s HVAC system requires to reach optimal temperatures, adjusting timing accordingly.
Greenhouses gases, generated by the energy we consume doing things like 