Is there a burning smell coming from your furnace? While it isn’t always a safety hazard, it’s still important to find the source of the smell, so you’d know if further action needs to be taken.
Here are some of the common reasons there’s a burning smell in your furnace, and how to deal with it:
- The dust within your system is burning off
Each season, as you turn the furnace on for the first time, you may notice an unpleasant burning smell as the dust or dirt that has settled on the components of your furnace is burning off.
This usually lasts for an hour and isn’t a cause for concern.
- The furnace filter is dirty
As the dust or dirt that has accumulated during the summer burns off, some of the odor molecules will get trapped within the furnace by filthy filters. This may cause the burning smell to linger longer than it should.
Dirty air filters also restrict airflow, putting additional strain on the blower and causing your system to overheat. You may soon have to deal with comfort issues and more expensive energy bills.
We recommend checking and replacing the filters once a month, especially if you have pets shedding excess fur and hair that can accumulate and clog the filters. This helps prolong the life of your furnace and prevent costly breakdowns.
Also, make sure all the vents are also open and unobstructed, and set the thermostat to a reasonable heat setting.
- You have an overheated blower motor or a cracked heat exchanger
If your furnace smells like burning plastic or burning rubber, you may be dealing with electrical issues that require immediate attention.
A melting plastic wire casing may have triggered the smell. This is a safety hazard, since wiring may spark a house fire. A cracked heat exchanger may also allow unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide into your home, putting your health at risk.
If your furnace overheats, inspect the air filter and replace it if it’s dirty. You may also need to call an HVAC technician to troubleshoot your system/ check, replace, or tighten damaged wiring.
FURNACE REPAIR NEAR ME – Reach out to a Good Guy!
Even before the winter months, there are Heating & Air Conditioning maintenance tasks a homeowner can do to enjoy uninterrupted heating when the temperatures drop.
But when you require furnace repair, choosing a Good Guy for the job ensures it’s done right the first time, so you won’t have to encounter the same problem anytime soon.
We’ll thoroughly inspect your furnace and diagnose the problem ASAP, so your home is once again warm and comfortable.
Aside from professional furnace repair, we also offer maintenance services to help you get the most out of your system. Nothing slips through the cracks: we check everything and catch small issues before they become bigger, more expensive problems for you later on.
So we can get to you faster, you may schedule an appointment through our app or online! [Book Online link]
