6 Furnace Smells and What They Mean
- Chemicals. If there is a chemical odor that smells like formaldehyde, your furnace most likely has a cracked heat exchanger.
- Sulfur or Rotten Eggs. Heating system smells that smell like rotten eggs or sulfur indicates a natural gas leak. ...
- Electrical Burning. ...
- Burning Oil. ...
- Dirty Socks. ...
- Dusty or Musty. ...
What is that weird smell coming from my furnace?
Here's how to determine if it a minor or major problem.
- Musty furnace smells. When you start up your furnace in the fall, you may notice that the furnace smells. ...
- Furnace smells like rotten eggs or like a sewer. If you’re near your furnace and detect a smell that’s a bit on the sour side or that stings your ...
- Dusty smell. ...
- Furnace smells like burning plastic. ...
Why does my furnace make a loud noise?
Here's why your blower might be struggling with air intake:
- Dirty air filter
- Closed heating vents
- Blocked heating vents
Is it normal for my furnace to smell like gas?
When you kick your furnace on, all of the dirt, dust, and other impurities that have been sitting in your furnace can start to stir up. That “gas” smell can simply be the furnace burning off all of that accumulated dirt and debris. This is totally normal, and you can implement a quick fix to alleviate the issue.
What does the smell coming from your furnace mean?
When your furnace is giving off this smell, it means that it’s overheating. It will use up more electricity to drive through the resistance. This increased use of voltage causes too much heat buildup in the motor. This heat can cause other problems like melted wire insulations.
How long does it take for a new furnace to stop smelling?
That dust will burn off when you turn on your furnace in the fall, creating a burning smell. This smell should disappear within a few minutes. One way you can reduce or prevent this smell is by having furnace maintenance done each year.Dec 8, 2021
Is a new furnace supposed to smell?
A burning dust smell may emanate from the furnace once you start the furnace at the beginning of the winter season. This smell is completely normal and should go away within several days. However, if the musty smell persists, try solving this problem by changing out the air filter.
Why does my new furnace smell like burning plastic?
Burning Plastic The smell of plastic burning could mean a foreign object has made its way into your heating unit. This could be anything from a plastic bottle cap to one of your children's plastic toys. As the plastic burns from the heat of the furnace, it can emit fumes into the home that are harmful to your health.Oct 24, 2018
Are new furnace fumes harmful?
0:301:47New Furnace Odors - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can get an objectionable smell that sometimes smells like a hair dryer. You know what that is isMoreYou can get an objectionable smell that sometimes smells like a hair dryer. You know what that is is manufacturing. Oil that is on the heat exchanger of the furnace when that gets heated up it creates
Why does the heat smell when you first turn it on?
A burning smell when you first turn your heater on is most likely caused by dust buildup on your furnace. For homeowners who live in a region that often experiences changing seasons, like in the Mid-Atlantic, it's likely that the furnace isn't used all year round.
Why Is My Furnace Producing a Burning Odor?
When your furnace lies dormant for the warm months of spring and summer, it collects dust. When you first fire up the furnace as the weather cools...
Why Do I Smell Burning Plastic When I Use My Furnace?
A plastic smell coming from your furnace means that some component(s) are malfunctioning. If left untreated, the overheating of the furnace can cau...
Why Is My Furnace Producing a Rotten Egg Odor?
Gas companies add a substance to natural gas to warn people when a gas leak has occurred. If you notice a rotten egg smell near your furnace, this...
Why Is My Furnace Producing An Oil Odor?
An oily smell coming from your furnace might not be a big deal, but it might need professional attention. An oil odor could mean the filter in your...
Why does my furnace smell like it's overheating?
An electrical burning smell coming from your furnace indicates that it’s overheating. Wear and tear on components such as bearings and the blower motor can cause them to malfunction leading to overheating. The extra heat can melt other components in the system that are rubber as well as create sparks.
Why does my furnace smell like formaldehyde?
If there is a chemical odor that smells like formaldehyde, your furnace most likely has a cracked heat exchanger. A cracked heat exchanger is extremely dangerous for two reasons. First, it can fill your home with carbon monoxide. Second, it can cause a fire in your home. At Miller’s Heating & Air we take cracked heat exchangers very seriously.
Why do my socks smell like dirty socks?
What is the culprit? When your furnace coils cycle between heating up and cooling down, it creates condensation that allows bacteria to grow. Bacteria builds up in your system over time and causes the smell. An annual maintenance completed by trained technician should take care of this problem. During an annual maintenance, your furnace coils are cleaned. It is also important to keep up on changing your furnace filter regularly.
Why does my heating system smell like rotten eggs?
Heating system smells that smell like rotten eggs or sulfur indicates a natural gas leak. Natural gas is odorless. Gas companies have added a chemical to the gas, which causes it to smell like rotten eggs and/or sulfur so home owners know when there is a gas leak. Inhaling natural gas is a health hazard, which can result in nausea, fatigue, dizziness and breathing issues. If there is a natural gas leak in your home, turn off your system immediately. Open your windows in order to increase ventilation and call an HVAC service professional for a heating service appointment. As a safety precaution, you may want to stay out of the home as a safety precaution until the problem has been fixed during a heating service appointment.
What happens if you spill oil on a propane tank?
If the burner doesn’t catch all of the oil, it can create an oil fog. If this catches on fire, it can cause a burning smell and even smoke. Lastly if you spill while refilling your oil tank and a smell may linger for a few days.
Why is my oil furnace catching on fire?
There is a higher likelihood of this occurring if your oil furnace is in your basement. Make sure to keep debris and items far away from your oil furnace to prevent them from catching on fire. Another possible cause is an issue with the oil and the burner.
What to do if you smell electrical burning?
If you smell electrical burning, immediately turn of your system in order to prevent a fire. You will need a trained professional to assess your system during a heating service appointment and repair it before it can be safely used again.
Why Does My Furnace Smell Funny?
When your furnace lies dormant for the warm months of spring and summer, it collects dust. When you first fire up the furnace as the weather cools down, this dust will burn off and might cause a slight burning odor throughout your house. This smell is perfectly normal and will disappear as you utilize your furnace in the winter season.
Negative Consequences of an Inadequately Maintained Furnace
If any of the more serious odors explained above aren’t addressed promptly, they could lead to bigger problems in the near or distant future. Taking good care of your furnace helps prevent some of those issues and extends the machine’s life.
Furnace Repair and Installation Services
The HVAC experts on our team are here to keep your family safe by offering dependable furnace repair and furnace installation services in Virginia. Our 40+ years of industry experience have made us the best emergency heating repair provider in Northern Virginia.
When Your Furnace Smells Like Burning Dust
If you’ve ever turned on an old light fixture, you likely know the smell of burning dust. When the light bulb heats up, the dust that accumulated on top of the bulb starts to burn. It’s a natural occurrence for most appliances throughout your home that haven’t been used in a while.
Do You Smell Burning Metal, Plastic, Rubber, or Wax?
Lastly, the smell of burning metal, rubber, or wax are some other smells you should take note of. As furnaces and their components age, they become more susceptible to damage from extreme heat. With extreme heat and prolonged use, critical furnace parts can start to melt, or even crack, causing damage that needs to be repaired.
