Why Does Your Furnace Smell?

When the weather turns chilly, and you switch from cooling to heating your home, you might be concerned about unusual furnace odors filling the air. Find out what the most typical furnace odors could imply and how to deal with them.

Smells from the Furnace Musty

Musty furnace odors typically indicate mold growth in the HVAC system. Take care of this issue as soon as possible to prevent exposing your family to mold and mildew spores.

It may be as simple as purchasing a new air filter to eliminate the odor since a moist filter might harbor mold. The AC evaporator coil installed close to the furnace may be to blame if that doesn't stop the smell. Condensation is collected by this part, which may encourage mold growth. A professional can inspect and clean the evaporator coil for you, which is in your best interest. Consider having your air ducts cleaned if this doesn't work. This service removes hidden mold, no matter where it is hiding in your ventilation system.

It Smells Like Rotten Eggs in the Furnace

Due to the likelihood of a gas leak, this is one of the lousy furnace odors. The utility company adds a helpful ingredient called mercaptan to the natural gas supply to make leaks easier to find.

Turn off the heater when you notice a rotten egg stench near your furnace or from your air ducts. If you are aware of the location of the main gas supply valve, close it as well. Then leave your house, call 911, and then the gas company. Reenter the residence only after an expert has determined it is safe.

The Smell From The Furnace Is Sour

The heat exchanger may be cracked if you are near a furnace and smell something sour that irritates your nose. A damaged heat exchanger could release harmful volumes of CO gas into your home since this crucial component stores combustion byproducts, including carbon monoxide.

Because carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal, turn off your heater immediately if you smell something strange. Then, request an inspection from an HVAC expert. If a cracked heat exchanger is the problem, consider replacing your furnace. Make sure that all of the floors in your home have functional CO detectors for your future protection.

It smells dusty in the Furnace

You probably anticipate that the house will initially smell dusty when you turn on the furnace for the first time after some time. As the furnace starts up, you can smell the six months' worth of dust burning off. It would be best if you didn't worry as long as the odor disappears after a day.

Smoke is coming from the Furnace

Furnaces powered by natural gas, oil, or propane expel fumes safely outside your house because they are combustion appliances. If your flue is blocked and you can smell smoke, gasses return to your home. If you ignore it, the smell could gradually spread throughout the house and endanger your family's health. Therefore, turn off the furnace and make a repair appointment with a specialist as soon as possible.

It Smells Like Burning Plastic in the Furnace

Burning plastic smells are most frequently caused by overheating and melting electrical components. Another option is a broken fan motor. If you don't fix the issue, an electrical fire can occur, or your furnace might sustain damage beyond repair. Call an HVAC specialist for assistance in identifying and selecting this strange furnace smell, and turn off the heating system as soon as possible.

Oily Smell from the Furnace

When the oil filter is blocked, you can smell this odor from an oil furnace. See if you can replace it to see if the issue is resolved. After completing this step, the scent can suggest an oil leak if it persists for more than 24 hours. To solve this issue, you'll require the assistance of an HVAC expert.

Sewer odors emanate from the Furnace

Since sewer gas smells much like rotting eggs, you should first rule out the possibility of a natural gas leak. If that is not the problem, your sewer pipes may have a problem, such as a dry trap or sewer leak. To rehydrate sewage traps that have dried out, try pouring water down your drains, including the floor drain in the basement. Make contact with a sewer line repair firm if the odor persists.

Consult the experts at HVAC Repair Guide for furnace repair

If you still need to be convinced, get your furnace inspected and fixed by an HVAC specialist. We provide thorough diagnostic services to identify the issue before beginning repairs at HVAC Repair Guide Experts. Then, along with an upfront quotation for each choice, we suggest the most practical, affordable repairs. We back our work with a one-year, 100% satisfaction guarantee and have ACE-certified experts who can handle almost any heating issue. Please get in touch with your neighborhood HVAC Repair Guide Experts business immediately if you have any inquiries about why your furnace smells awful or to request furnace repair close to you.