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What’s That Smell? 5 Strange Furnace Smells and What They Mean
Greg Elder • Nov 11, 2022
Your furnace is an essential part of your home that keeps it comfortable and safe. However, when your furnace breaks down, it can be irritating and unpleasant, especially during the harsh winters. Fortunately, your furnace will give you some warning signs before it breaks down. One of the main concerns many homeowners notice is unpleasant odors from the unit. Different furnace smells can signal a variety of problems. An unpleasant smell from your furnace could be the result of dust accumulation during the warmer months, or it could be the result of a more severe problem. It’s essential to know when to be concerned so that you can address it before it becomes a safety or health threat.

Here Are Five Strange Furnace Smells You Should Know About

Burning Smell:

If the furnace has been dormant for several months, dust and other particles may accumulate on the burners, heat exchangers, air ducts, and other components. When you turn it on for the first time each year, this dust burns off and generates a burning smell. That odor is often released from vents connected to your home’s heating system throughout the house, but it is not a cause of concern.

After a few hours, the smell will diminish. If the smell persists even after a few hours of operating your furnace, contact a professional furnace repair in Owensboro, KY, to inspect your heating system and determine and correct the source of the problem.

Electrical Wires Burning Smell:

If your furnace isn’t working correctly, you can sense the odor of burning electrical wires. Such smells are frequently related to blower motor overheating. When the blower motor overheats, the heating system is supposed to shut down. However, if the furnace has a defective component causing the blower motor to overwork and overheat, it will not turn off but may emit an electrical wire-burning smell.

Frayed or broken electrical wiring or a damaged heat exchanger might also emit an electrical burning smell. Electrical faults can be highly hazardous, and restoring the damage they create can be extremely expensive. If you put an electrical problem unattended, it could burn out your motor or worse. If you sense an electrical burning smell, switch off your furnace and contact an experienced furnace repair in Owensboro, KY , professional immediately.

Rotten Eggs Smell:

The sulfuric smell of rotten eggs is one of the most hazardous odors that your furnace may emit. Many furnaces are powered by natural gas. Although natural gas is odorless, gas companies add mercaptan, a nontoxic chemical, to make it more recognized. If your furnace smells like sulfur or rotten eggs, turn it off immediately and contact your HVAC company to have it inspected. Do not attempt a DIY gas leak repair unless you have the required abilities and knowledge.

Moldy And Musty Smell:

If you notice a foul, musty odor in your home throughout the winter, especially when you first start utilizing your heating system, you may have a slightly different problem on your hands.

After your furnace has been idle for a long time, restarting it sends it into defrost mode, resulting in a moist environment. That will allow potentially harmful bacteria to infiltrate your home, causing foul odor and lowering the indoor air quality. The best approach to avoid unpleasant smells in your home is to get your furnace serviced before each heating season.

Dirty Sock Smell:

The unpleasant odor of dirty socks emerging from your vents could be caused by a buildup of bacteria and mold in your heating system’s coil. You can eliminate the smell by cleaning or replacing your air filter regularly.

If you notice any odd smells when you turn on the furnace for the first time, call a trustworthy furnace repair professional to inspect the system and determine the source of the problem.

You can also avoid these problems by scheduling furnace maintenance before you turn on the heat. In this manner, a specialist can ensure that everything is in working order and that you won’t have any strange odors or other concerns when it’s time to turn on the furnace.

Contact Four Seasons Heating & Cooling if you detect any difficulties with your furnace or need a dependable furnace replacement in Owensboro, KY . Our experienced professionals will properly diagnose the problem and repair or replace your furnace so you can enjoy your home’s comfort as soon as possible.

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