Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Please Help - Furnace Backdrafting

Hello All,

First time homeowner battling the cold and snow in the northeast this year and need some help with my oil furnace... the furnace works pretty well but intermittently when it fires up a cloud of brown smoke comes out the thing that vents to the flue (Is the opening on ductwork exhaust with swivel plate the flue?) The brown cloud quickly shoots out of there and then the furnace runs fine but it stinks the house up.

1.) What would cause this backdraft like effect?

2.) Is that swivel plate a flue and what does it do?

Any help would be appreciated... thanks you.

If it does it everytime it starts. could be poor ignition. system could be partialy plugged. there are a few things you have to know what to look for. Now that swivel thing is called a damper. if it is on the vent pipe. that has regulate the draft up the chimney. Please call a local oil company to take alook at it.
shrtct

You should call in a Pro who works on Oil and has the tools to do a draft test, smoke, and co test.

Sounds like it just needs a good cleaning and tune up. I am sure the last owner didn't do it.