Spider Webs or Fire Damage?

3/7/2023 (Permalink)

When a furnace or fireplace malfunctions, a severe puffback can occur that leaves soot throughout your entire property.  This happens after a substantial buildup of the oil in the system.  The soot eventually then bursts out and into the air.  Once it strikes other soot particles, the carbon chains are formed that appear to be spider webs but are actually much more difficult to remove.

Puffbacks are a leading form of fire damage during this time of year when our oil burners are not working properly, but there is a way to prevent the strange and toxic soot residue:

• Clean your oil burner every year.
• Check for signs of oil leaks.  Before a puffback, soot may begin to slowly make its way into your home by leaving some form of black soot on the burner or on your walls or ceiling.
• If you hear strange noises from the burner, it’s time to get the system inspected and repaired.
• Check your chimney and fireplace for signs of damage or debris that can create a buildup of oil that will eventually burst.

Should you discover soot in your property, we recommend that you call a certified fire damage restoration professional to help.  Soot is very difficult to remove, and improperly doing so can actually lead to more damage.  SERVPRO of Kennett Square/Oxford uses soot cleaning sponges to not only remove all signs of visible soot on the affected surfaces, but also to find exactly where the soot has traveled to so that we can fully restore a property.  Should you discover any form of fire damage in your home, give us a call for a free assessment before the problem can get worse!