Why is my chimney blowing black smoke?

Why is my chimney blowing black smoke?

After fire is a result of improper burning or an oil leak. During combustion, a small amount of oil puddles in the bottom of the combustion chamber. Because it is not controlled and the fan has turned off, it quickly consumes the oxygen in the combustion chamber and produces thick clouds of black smoke.

What color smoke should come out of your chimney?

The smoke coming out of your chimney should be almost colorless and thin. Thick, white or black smoke indicates that your fire is not receiving enough air.

How do I stop my chimney from smoking?

How To Keep Smoke From Coming Out Of A Fireplace

1. Use A Fireplace Grate.
2. Build Fires Towards The Back Of The Fireplace.
3. Build Fires Using The Top-Down Method.
4. Burn Dry & Low Moisture Content Firewood.
5. Open The Damper Fully Before Each Fire.
6. Preheat The Chimney To Start The Draft.
7. Build Smaller, Hotter Fires.

What does smoke coming out of chimney mean?

In the case of a burner or furnace that runs on heating oil, white smoke flowing from your chimney may be a sign of a mixture problem within the burner. Excessive levels of oxygen within the combustion chamber can cause inefficient fuel burning and lead to the dense, white smoke emanating from your chimney.

What should chimney smoke look like?

Fluffy, gray, “ashy”, or “honeycombed” creosote (normally, creosote is a flat, black, often shiny substance)

What’s the most common cause of puff back?

Most puffbacks occur in oil-fired heating systems. In a furnace or boiler fueled with gas, the explosion is usually bigger and more damaging. A puffback can have many causes but can almost always be traced to a lack of maintenance or a failure to make needed repairs.

What does Black smoke from wood mean?

White smoke can also indicate light and flashy fuels such as grass or twigs. Thick, black smoke indicates heavy fuels that are not being fully consumed.

How can I tell if my chimney needs cleaning?

Here are seven tell-tale signs that indicate your chimney or fireplace needs cleaning:

1. Your fireplace smells like a campfire.
2. Fires burn oddly.
3. It takes more effort to get a fire going and keep it going.
4. Smoke fills the room.
5. The fireplace damper is black.
6. Fireplace walls have oily marks.
7. There’s evidence of animals.

What are the signs of a chimney fire?

A loud, crackling or popping noise from the chimney flue (imagine the sound of a large bonfire) A lot of dense, thick smoke coming into the fireplace or out of the top of the chimney. Flames or things that are on fire (pieces of flaming creosote) coming from the top of the chimney. A strong, intensely hot smell.

Why does wood burn black?

More often than not, the reason why firewood is turning black, and not burning properly, is because wood is far too wet and not seasoned well. But, there are other things that could also potentially contribute to wood turning black and not burning.

Why does puff back happen?

A puffback occurs when a furnace or boiler does not ignite properly and allows oil or gas vapors to build up within the ignition/combustion chamber. When it does finally ignite, the excess fuel in the chamber causes this puffback scenario.

How do you clean up after puffing back?

Professional Puff Back Cleanup The best option is to call a puff back specialist. The soot from a puff back is greasy, toxic and carcinogenic. The soot particles are small and are very difficult to clean. Vacuuming the carpet and wiping down the walls with soap and water is not enough.

What causes black smoke from an oil furnace?

Smoke of any color — white, gray and black — coming from your oil furnace chimney frequently indicates a problem with your oil furnace. Contact a heater repair technician to inspect your oil furnace, diagnose the issue and make the necessary repair.

What causes smoke to come out of the chimney?

When components, such as the register grill, supply ducts and blower fan compartments, build up with dust and dirt, smoke released from the chimney appears dark gray or black. These components must be dirt and dust-free in order for the oil furnace to operate efficiently.

Where does the smoke go after an oil furnace explosion?

Depending on the force of the explosion, smoke either fills the room of the furnace or exits via the chimney. If you experience this issue, contact the fire department as a precautionary measure and vacate the premises until the smoke clears out.

What causes an oil burner to catch on fire?

If the small explosions become too strong, the burner and furnace can be damaged and the situation can become dangerous. After fire is a result of improper burning or an oil leak. During combustion, a small amount of oil puddles in the bottom of the combustion chamber. This oil keeps burning even after the furnace has shut off.