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Puffbacks can cause soot and smoke to cover every surface of your home in a thin film. This residue can appear black, oily, sticky, and cause a smoke odor throughout your home. Before trying to clean after a puffback yourself, you should take these things into consideration.

What is A Puffback? 

A puffback is when built up, unburned fuel finally ignites in the combustion chamber of your furnace, water heater, or boiler. This causes an explosion or misfire, which produces smoke and soot. These particles are then sent through your home's heating system, covering walls, floors, ceilings, upholstery, cabinets, and more.  furnace puffback soot on ceiling

Puffbacks can cause damage to your home in many ways. A few major damages include: 

  • Film of soot and smoke residue covering your entire home
  • Soot particles ruining upholstery, such as curtains, couches, or bedding
  • Damage to components of your heating system from misfires
  • Risk of fire
  • Risk of carbon monoxide poisoning

Can You Clean Puffbacks Yourself?

While you technically can clean up by yourself after a furnace puffback, it's not a good idea. The soot cleaning from a puffback should always be performed by a soot cleaning service to ensure all particles and residues are completely removed. When you try and clean up after a puffback yourself, a few things can happen:

  • Soot and smoke particles can become further embedded into walls when scrubbed
  • Using the wrong types of cleaning chemicals can make it harder to clean the soot later
  • Without the proper equipment and cleaning protocols, smoke and soot smells will linger in the home
  • You may throw away items that have smoke or soot on them that could've been restored by professionals

What Should You Do After A Puffback? 

After a puffback, there are a few easy steps you can take to relieve an overwhelming situation: 

  1. Turn off your heating system to prevent further damages or more puff backs.
  2. Contact your HVAC repairman to have your heating system serviced before turning it on again. If its winter time, utilize space heaters in the meantime. 
  3. Call your homeowners insurance company and file a claim for the soot and smoke cleanup.
  4. Contact a puffback cleaning service local to your area. To find a good fit, you can Google "Puffback cleanup near me" to find a local company. 
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The Coronavirus has certainly changed how businesses operate all across America and right here in Connecticut. To stay open, many businesses have invested in Coronavirus disinfection services to help protect both their customers and employees. If you're looking to do the same for your business, but you're not sure where to start looking - We will outline 7 tips here to choose a trustworthy coronavirus disinfection company for your business. 

Tips For Choosing A COVID-19 Disinfection Service in Connecticut

  1. Choose a company that has experience and is certified in dealing with biological contaminants. 
  2. Make sure to use a company that is following all CDC guidelines related to the Coronavirus. 
  3. Ask the company what disinfectant chemicals they are using. A company should only be using chemicals listed on the EPA registered disinfectant list for the Coronavirus. 
  4. Choose a company that uses advanced technology like electrostatic sprayers and utilizes PPE (personal protective equipment) while cleaning. 
  5. Use a company that takes time to consult with you on your specific disinfection needs and creates a tailored cleaning program around it. 
  6. Research what companies other businesses in the area have used to disinfect their own facilities, especially if they are in the same industry. 
  7. Compare the costs of different companies. The cheapest company is likely not the best option and is cutting corners. Investing in the chemicals, PPE, and training needed to have an effective COVID-19 disinfection program is not a small investment, and increases the price of the service. 

These tips are important to make sure that you use a company that actually wants to help your business, rather than wanting your money. Many new companies have opened since the coronavirus pandemic began, suddenly providing specialized biological services. But, they may not have the same experience, training, and resources as a company that has specialized in biohazards long before the pandemic began. In times like these, you should look for trustworthy, excellent service to keep your employees and customers safe, healthy, and feeling secure. 

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Why Do Basements Flood?

There’s many reasons for basement flooding. Heavy rains can bring in groundwater through cracks in your foundation, sump pumps or drainage systems can fail, water or sewage can back up from clogged basement floor drains, and even things like your furnace or water heater can cause your flooding. 

8 Things To Do When Your Basement Floods

  • Safety first! Don’t immediately enter a flooded crawlspace or basement. 
  • Find protective gear to wear if you enter your basement. Get some rain boots and gloves to make sure you don’t come in contact with dirty or contaminated water, especially if from a sewer backup or rainwater. If it’s past your knees, you may need chest waders as well - but if your basement is this flooded, we wouldn’t recommend entering. Rather, call us here at SERVPRO of Branford/Shoreline to help.
  • Locate the source of the water. If caused by a burst pipe or any other faulty appliance, turn off the water immediately. If caused by rain, you want to wait until the storm has passed and stops pouring water into your home. 
  • If you have a floor drain or sump pump, check and see if it’s clogged. 
  • Begin removing water from the basement. 
  • Dry EVERYTHING out! Remove wet or water damaged items and decide if they can be salvaged. Be sure to set up fans, dehumidifiers and open windows to help dry out your basement. If there was a lot of water, household equipment may not be able to get the job done. SERVPRO of Branford/Shoreline has commercial grade equipment that will be able to quickly and thoroughly dry your basement, and ensure no moisture is left behind. Check out our Water Damage Restoration Process for more information!
  • Clean and sanitize basement walls and floors! Even though it may now be dry, the flood water may have been dirty or contaminated, depending on its source. Additionally, mold and mildew may already have begun to grow during your drying efforts. 
  • Take steps to prevent basement flooding in the future. 

When Should You Call A Professional To Help Cleanup Your Flooded Basement? 

If the water in your basement is more than several feet deep, you should call a professional flooded basement cleanup company like SERVPRO of Branford/Shoreline. We are water damage restoration specialists and will be able to remove water, dry out your basement, clean and sanitize all walls and floors to prevent mold growth, and can even restore your belongings. If you want to be sure your home is dry, sanitary and safe after a basement flood, we can help!