As temperatures drop and we begin to greet the winter season, homeowners will start turning on their heaters for the first time in a while. For areas in the U.S. that don’t need their furnace all year round, you may encounter an odd burning smell coming from your unit.
When it comes to your heater, there are some odors that may lead to dangerous problems that need to be checked out by an HVAC specialist. But, there are also some odors that can be fixed by homeowners! The specialists at Complete Comfort have helpful tips for homeowners that find themselves with a burning smell from their heater and how they can resolve it from their home:
Dust On The Furnace
One reason a burning smell might come from your heater is because of the dust that has built up on it from months without use. This could come in the smell of burning plastic! Depending on how much build-up is in your system, the smell should go away after your heater burns away all the dust.
If you believe a dirty furnace is what is causing the smell, inspect your unit to see if there is any dust build-up. Try running your unit for about 10 minutes to see if the smell will clear up on its own. If you find that the smell continues to linger in your home or gets worse, turn off your unit and contact your trusted local HVAC company.
Dirty Furnace Filters Or Air Vents
Just as dust can reside on your furnace, it can also clog your filters and air vents. This build-up could lead to mold or mildew growth in your ductwork. If you find that you have a musty smell when you run your system, it may come from the filters or the air vent.
The best solution to get rid of this musty smell is to clean or replace your air filter. First, turn off the unit to remove the air filter. Once you place it back in the unit, try running the system again. If the smell continues to linger, give your local HVAC company a call.
Debris Trapped In Your Heating System
Another reason why you may have a burning smell is that you have an object trapped in your heating system. If the burning smell is coming from a specific room in the house, try to look into the vent. Objects and different particles can make their way into your ductwork, such as:
- Soot or dust
- Black mold
- A toy or a small item
- Heating system parts like insulation chunks
If you can see the object from the vent and can safely remove it, do so carefully and see if the burning smell continues. If you can’t safely retrieve the object or the smell continues after you thought you removed the problem, contact the professionals.
Damaged Electrical Wiring
If you have a burning electrical smell in your home, it may come from a serious electrical problem in your unit. Parts may have worn out over time that led to damage to your HVAC’s electrical wiring. Serious problems could come from damaged electrical wiring such as a cracked heat exchanger or the blower motor overheating. Turn off your unit and contact your trusted local HVAC company for professional furnace repair immediately if you think the burning smell is coming from damaged electrical wiring.
Contact Complete Comfort For Professional HVAC Repair!
The best way to keep any burning smell from lingering in your home is to schedule regular HVAC maintenance with your trusted local HVAC company. Complete Comfort is your trusted Jupiter heating company that specializes in maintaining and repairing HVAC systems all year round! Contact our team of specialists today to stay warm and safe for the upcoming winter season!
