The Oil Furnace Causes Soot Throughout the House

Description

• Puff backs occur when an oil burner doesn’t light right away and fuel oil and vapors back up in the combustion chamber. When the burner does finally ignite, an explosion occurs that can blow the firebox door open, sending a flame across the room and knocking the flue pipe down. If this happens, your basement will fill with smoke. The explosion may also consist of a small thud and puff of smoke that goes up the chimney. Smoke from a puff back is dark gray or black because it contains a lot of soot.

Causes

• Maintenance problems and installation mistakes are responsible for most puff backs. These include failing to clean a dirty oil burner nozzle or fix leaks in an oil line. A dirty oil valve can also cause oil to build up in a combustion chamber by interfering with the oil burner’s ability to shut down at the end of a burn cycle. Another possible problem is a short chimney that causes a poor draft.

Damage

• Puff back problems are worse if you have a forced air system because the heating ducts spread soot throughout your home. The petroleum-based boil becomes embedded in objects and is extremely difficult to clean. The oil smell can also be very difficult to remove from your house. Professional cleaning and restoration may be needed, at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars. In addition, serious puff backs can damage a furnace and, in some cases, may even cause a fire.

Warning Signs

• Signs that a serious puff back might occur include the appearance of soot on top of your furnace or the appearance of soot stains on your walls and ceilings. The smell of oil and your white socks turning gray when you’re walking in the house without your shoes on are additional signs. Hearing a soft rumbling sound or small “puff” or “bang” sounds when your burner starts are also indications that unburned oil is igniting in your furnace.

Prevention

• Reduce your chances of a puff back by keeping your oil heating system free of dust and debris. Have your heating system inspected and serviced every year. Call your heating company if you hear rumbling noises from your furnace, see soot in the furnace room or find oil leaks in the piping or at the burner.

Don'ts

• If you suffer a serious puff back, there are some things you should not do. Don’t try to wash soot from the walls or ceiling, and don’t use affected furniture and carpets. Allow professionals to clean up these messes. Also, don’t use foods exposed to soot. Don’t turn on your computer, TV or any electronic appliances until they’ve been cleaned and checked.