In the common day to day language of homeowners it is surprising to come across terms that can be taken as odd if not properly understood. One such term is “puff back” which, common sense will dictate, is the backward direction of a sudden gust, breeze, or even explosion of air.
Surprisingly, this common sense definition closely reflects the mechanism by which puff back occurs. What is more interesting to learn is that its damage and eventual cleanup and restoration can be taken within the context of fire and smoke damage cleanup and restoration. We shall also learn that puff back incidents are not mere accidents but can otherwise be prevented.
The Fundamentals
Technically, puff back occurs because of an explosion in the combustion chamber of some heating element, most common of which are oil burners, that has gone malfunctioned. The explosion is caused by the rapid ignition of gas or even oil vapors that have built up inside the chamber. Think about an unopened bottle of champagne that when gently shaken creates effervescence that when you finally unscrew the cork, it literally ‘pops’ out and the bottle’s contents burst out into a beautiful fountain.
Going back to the fundamentals of physics and chemistry, we know that an explosion can occur if there is a sudden increase in the volume of highly combustible molecules which releases significantly great amounts of energy. The energy released also translates to the generation of extremely high temperatures which favor the release of highly volatile gases into the air. The air, being 21% oxygen, is further ignited because of the interaction between the volatile gases released by the explosion and the oxygen in the air. This results in a blast explosion that comes secondary and less than a fraction of a second after the primary explosion. The result is the forceful dislodgement of airborne atoms and molecules creating a shockwave that radiates from the epicenter of the explosion.
What all this translates to is that whatever is contained in the exploding unit will be turned into projectiles that usually land elsewhere a few feet from the starting point of the explosion.
In understanding the phenomenon of puff back, gas or even liquid molecules are contained in a tightly-sealed container or vessel such that the molecular dynamics is limited to just within the confines of the vessel. It should also be understood that atoms and molecules are in perpetual motion relative to each other. Depending on the phase of the matter, these molecules either bump each other at a rate and force that is commensurate to the overall space they are allowed to move freely.
The problem is that, as these molecules bump into each other, they release energy such that there can come a time when enough energy has been generated that the overall pressure inside the vessel or container is more than enough to push against the walls of the container. In the event that some molecules, in the course of them bumping into one another, cause friction which can release static forms of electricity, rapid ignition can occur. The result will be an explosion and you can expect that whatever was inside the container you will be able to see it outside of it.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the phenomenon technical persons call the puff back and it is something that we should not be scared of.
Danger
The resulting explosion releases quite a few substances into the air and into inanimate objects within the path of the blast. If the explosion is forceful enough so as to create miniature projectiles, it is possible to see traces of the explosion’s path on walls, ceilings, doorways, stairs, floors, carpets, and even pieces of furniture. These should be taken in the light of fire and smoke damage because its characteristic soot appearance that closely resembles those found in fires and smoke.
The harm, therefore is in the soot that accumulates after the blast. We have to remember that soot is often made of greasy matter that it literally sticks to surfaces and that it is quite difficult to remove by ordinary cleaning methods.
Prevention
The question I guess everyone has now is that of the possibility of preventing puff back from ever happening. Just like in the medical and healthcare community, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So here are some helpful tips on how you can prevent such relatively ‘small’ yet significant problems from bothering you. Please be reminded, however, that these are not at all guarantee that you will not have to contend with these events in the future. What this will only do is offer some sort of solace in the idea that you did all that you could have otherwise done to protect and keep your family safe and that you have done to reduce the risks involved.
Now the best prevention against puff back, or any other unwanted event, is to inspect your oil burner regularly by a licensed professional. Have it inspected at least once a year and, in cases when you have to have it repaired, make sure you take it only to certified service centers.
Regularly clean the different components of your oil burner, taking special note of the presence of any debris, animal or human hair, and or anything that can potentially interfere with the proper functioning of the oil burner.
In Case
Now, if puff back does occur, and by luck – or even misfortune – that your other belongings were affected, there are quite a few tips we can recommend. Remember that puff back damage cleanup and restoration should be approached in the same way as we would approach a fire and smoke problem. The idea behind this is that the powerful explosion will literally send grime, grease, dirt, and debris flying into articles and belongings directly in the path of the explosion.
With time, these explosive debris can become the stubborn soot we all associate with fire and smoke damage. Think of the blackish traces of smoke in ceilings whenever we use kerosene lamps during electrical power failures.
Never wash the area where soot from the puff back has literally found itself plastered, especially if the area has been covered with wallpaper or have been flat-painted. If you do have to wash off the soot outline, do it by gently dabbing on affected areas with a wet sponge. Never ever scrub off the soot because this will only make the eye sore worse than ever before. You have to understand that soot is essentially made up of grease and that grease is a messy thing to deal with. No amount of water based cleaning will ever rid the area of soot because, as they say, oil and water will never mix.
Never ever clean or wash affected carpets and or furniture for the exact same reason we have described above. Never even attempt to touch the soot because this can stick to your hands like adhesive. In cases when you cannot avoid handling the soot, make sure never touch anything else because the greasy soot will permeate walls, woodwork and upholstery which can cause more damage than good.
Now, more than ever, is the best time for you to call for professional help which can offer you a variety of services that can include repair of the blown out oil burner to cleaning up the puff back damage and restore affected and damaged articles into their original form and functionality.
Furthermore, and this is a welcome news to every homeowner out there, puff back damage is covered by your insurance policy. You can actually ask from the professional companies that offer cleaning and restoration about how they can help you with filing for insurance claims.
Professional cleaners and restorers can use a variety of technological advances to render your puff back problems a thing of the past. What they will most likely do is to perform thermal fogging of the affected areas of the house. This is done in order to remove the distinct smoky odor that is left by the puff back incident.
Also, professional cleaners and restorers can thoroughly clean the various structures inside your home. While they are cleaning these structures, they will also be performing a thorough inspection for structural issues that might have been caused by the puff back.
After All
Now, one thing you should understand is that puff back is not actually an isolated incident. It can actually be just a sign of a more severe structural or system problem, especially in how the different components and structural elements of the home are designed and installed.
In this case, it might be wise to consult the services of a professional building estimator and structural analyst who will perform a series of diagnostic tests. These evaluative tests will determine for the soundness and integrity of house components and elements so that untoward events can be prevented early on.
Prevention, again, is not synonymous to the absolute absence of the problem but rather the decreased chances of the problem occurring.
So, will you still need to worry about puff back phenomenon?
