What are Puff Back Fires and How Can They Happen?

6/1/2022 (Permalink)

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Puff back fires happen when your oil burner is running and the product of combustion, natural gas, is released into the air. It can occur when a burner's hot exhaust pipe comes into contact with combustible materials like dry leaves or even just water vapor that already exists in the air. The fire burns through these materials, releasing more heat and gases into the atmosphere and causing a massive explosion that disrupts your heating system.

Causes of a Puff Back Fires

There are several causes of puff backfires. The following are some of them:

Burner is clogged

The most common cause is a clogged burner. It's imperative to check your burners regularly, more than once a month, especially when it's cold outside. If your burner has formed a clog and you don't remove it, your system will not run as efficiently, and the chances of puff backfire increase.

Improper combustion

Another common cause of puff backfires is improper combustion. It occurs when there's not enough air or too much air is being fed into your burner. You must keep the burning process in a particular state to prevent the fire from overly combusting, which can cause a puff to backfire.

Chimney is clogged

There are many ways for a chimney to become clogged, but one of the most common is when too much ash builds up in the bottom. It is caused by an inefficient combustion process in your burner, which results in excessive ash being left over.

Low oxygen levels

Another cause of puff backfires is having too low oxygen levels in your air supply. When oxygen levels are too low, your combustion process cannot burn properly, and a puff will occur. Most boilers or furnaces have a mechanism that detects low oxygen levels and will shut off the device to prevent a fire, but you must check the levels yourself.

Gas leaks

Gas is not very compressible, and when it leaks into the air, it causes an increase in pressure which results in a puff backfire. It is most likely caused by the leak coming from your gas pipe. It could be the result of poor installation or poor maintenance.

Safety Measures

Proper installation and maintenance

You have to have a burner that is properly installed and maintained to avoid puff backfires. The best way to do this is to have a professional install your system because they are better trained. It will also reduce the chances that you have a gas leak or a clogged burner.

Reduce combustible materials

You should decrease the amount of combustible materials around your home. It would help keep your yard neat and tidy to avoid getting a puff to backfire from dry leaves and dead branches.

Proper ventilation

Another preventive measure is to have proper ventilation when using your fireplace or heating system. You should keep the windows open if you are in a room with an operating fireplace. It's also a good idea to keep an exhaust fan on while your system is running.

Use of safety shut-offs

You can also have a safety shut-off installed on your system. It will shut down the oil burner in case of low oxygen levels or a clogged chimney.

Puff back fires are very dangerous and can cause a lot of damage to your home. They are also preventable if you take the proper precautions. There are several reasonable safety measures that you can take, but it's best to have a professional come in and inspect your system if you have any doubts.