Our team has more than 30 years of experience and we offer both same-day service for repairs plus 24-hour emergency service. A message about COVID-19 prevention. When you turn on your heating system, the dust burns off and releases a slight burning odor. Be Cautious of These 3 Furnace Smells Electrical Smells or Metallic Smells. When the furnace is turned on, the dust gets burned off. That first time furnace burning smell may be reminiscent of the first crisp, Louisville, KY winter morning. Often, an oil odor simply means your furnace filter has become clogged. When your motor wears out it will overwork and sometimes overheat. One of the most intimidating parts of homeownership, especially for first-time homeowners, is keeping up on maintenance and dealing with problems when they arise in your heating system. If you smell a strange, acrid, burning plastic smell from your furnace, you may have an electrical issue: electrical components, particularly the blower fan, cycle on and off frequently. This can cause a burning smell. Burning dust smell. The next move should be to call the gas company right away. For example, cold floors could be harmless or it could mean a plumbing leak. This is usually caused when the exhaust vent in your furnace malfunctions and stays closed. Some aren’t sure what to look for. Check and replace your air filter as needed. For example, rotten eggs can mean a carbon monoxide leak since municipal utility companies add special chemicals to indicate a leak. 2. It’s common for your furnace to produce a burning dust smell at the beginning of the season, and it’s not likely to be a cause for alarm. Sometimes we second-guess ourselves. If there is a burning smell spreading around your home, it is essential to find the source of the smell. Dust Is Burning Off. To help prevent a burning dust smell, clean your vent surfaces before the start of the season to remove accumulated dust and other debris. Oil or natural gas furnaces may emanate a slight smell of burnt fuel, but not a very strong one. Over the warmer months when the heat is not in use, the dust from your home can settle in the vents and around the heating elements or combustion chamber in your furnace. Sometimes the problem is in your furnace and heat pump. Could An Air Purifier Kill The Coronavirus? If your air filter is clogged, these contaminants can get sucked into the blower and cause it to overheat. What Burning Smell From Your Vents Might Mean Furnace and Heat Pump Issues. However, this means there’s a build-up of dust inside the furnace and ducts. Sometimes, when you first turn on the heater, it can smell like gas is burning. Year after year, we’ve been honored to be named Best Heating & A/C Contractors for the Coeur d’Alene and Spokane area. A Burning Smell From The Heating System Or Furnace If a burning smell is coming from your vents, this could be the result of a mechanical problem. J.A. Or, is my sink draining slowly or am I just impatient? If you’re using AC, something is most likely overheating, which is not good. A burning electrical or plastic odor may indicate melted or burning electrical wiring and should be investigated immediately. Call your HVAC … As the weather changes, pine needles fall, the wind blows grass cuttings and other debris around, dust and dirt settle on surfaces and in crevasses. If the smell lingers for a long time, however, contact your maintenance provider to diagnose the issue. In addition to scheduling a duct cleaning, you should check your furnace’s air filter. Smoke If you can smell smoke coming from your vents, turn your furnace off immediately and open your windows to let fresh air in. With Leggett Inc., you can count on a reliable heating system and dedicated service team all winter long. As you settle in for a spectacular fall in the Treasure Valley, chances are you’re starting your furnace... 2. And if you can’t find the culprit in your heating system, vents or ductwork after a thorough inspection, call us immediately so we can locate the source and eliminate the problem. Oftentimes, it’s not a fire. If you are able to pinpoint the gas smell to the registers, turn off your furnace immediately and keep the windows open. Changing the filter should get rid of the smell. Leggett Inc. has been a trusted source for furnace repair in Central PA for more than 50 years. A burning smell is something many folks readily associate with fire, and a fire in your home is something no one wants to discover. Bertsch Heating & Cooling LLC. The first time you turn on your heater, dust burns off. Your furnace can also give off musty odors upon startup, especially if your furnace shares the same air... 3. Oftentimes, it’s not a fire. Malfunctions in the heater can cause the plastic wire casings to fail and meltdown. If your furnace smells like burning plastic, it’s time to call a technician. This could mean trouble in your air conditioner unit. There’s a good chance you’ve noticed a burning smell come from the furnace when you turn it on for the... Clogged Air Filter. … It’s also possible that a plastic household item or toy has found its way into your furnace. There could be several reasons why you have a burning smell coming from your heat vents. Generally, burning dust smell is not a sign of serious issues unless it persists for more than a full day. An air filter keeps the air in your home clean and it also makes sure that the air going into the furnace system is free from dust, hair, pet dander, and other airborne contaminants. If your furnace smells like burning plastic, shut off the furnace and get a furnace technician out to service it immediately. Your furnace may emit a burning smell within the first 24 hours after starting it up for the season due to dust that has built up over the summer. If there is a chemical odor that smells like formaldehyde, your furnace most likely has a cracked heat... Sulfur or Rotten Eggs. If you smell this coming from your furnace, it means something has found its way into the furnace, where it is now melting. We’ll show up on time to your appointment, diagnose the problem and fix it quickly with as little disturbance to your household as possible. Natural... Electrical Burning. When you’re confident your home is not on fire, you should have your heating system checked. If you happen to notice a burnt smell in your vents, the problem could be somewhere throughout your entire heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Electrical, metallic or plastic burning smell – Follow your nose to locate the source. Here’s what could be happening in your air conditioner: Sometimes, your motor in your air conditioner can wear out. Oil Odors. Keep in mind that the smell of burning and overheating are not the same. However, there are some signs that are hard to ignore, particularly in regards to smell. Electrical smells and metallic smells are generally pretty distinct for the... Rotten Egg Smell. When you turn on your heater and the heat exchanger warms up, the dust will burn off, producing that burnt smell. The combustion exhaust from your furnace is then forced through your duct system, sending the smell of smoke through your home. There is probably an overheated component or electrical wire. Sometimes if you smell something burning in your vents, it could be that debris has made its way into your ductwork. Continuing to use your furnace under these conditions could result in electrical damage to your home. Call in a service team to analyze your furnace, diagnose the issue and provide a solution. Check your heat pump’s, air conditioner, and furnace’s electrical kits. Here are 8 common furnace smells 1. 1. When the burners ignite, the dust burns off, and the odor exits through your air vents. Burnt Dust. Is your air conditioner in “cooling” mode? After turning the furnace on, the dust on it burns and gives off a burning odor that spreads the entire house through a vent. This puts extra stress on your motor and can lead to your air conditioner’s motor overheating. Marketing for home services by Vitalstorm. Both of these will cause a burning smell and can be mostly avoided by changing your filter regularly. It is just your furnace/heat pump burning off dust. Changing the air filter in your furnace can help as well. Take a look at these frequently asked questions to help you understand why your furnace is emitting a burning smell and what you can do to fix it. I will discuss these in depth below. Contact a trained service professional to accurately diagnose and resolve the problem. But if the issue persists, it may be a sign that your furnace is leaking oil. If you heat your home with an oil furnace, it could emit a smoky or oily odor for several reasons. If so, you’re aware of how distinct this odor is. Sometimes, though, a burning smell is a major issue, so it’s important to understand the difference. It could also mean a failing fan motor and that could mean you need a new furnace! Like the area around your outdoor intake system, what's near your indoor vent registers can affect your furnace smells. Power down your furnace immediately and call a service team to conduct an inspection and make repairs before using the furnace again. The most common reason you might experience a burning smell when you first turn on your heat for the season is that dust has settled on your furnace … One of the most common vent contamination issues is the smell of pet hair or urine. In those first few days of using your furnace – and sometimes even deeper into the season – you may notice an odd burning smell when your furnace comes on. If the smell isn’t coming from the vents, … However, if a new filter doesn’t get rid of the oil smell, contact a professional. Musty Odors. Great offers and helpful tips straight to your inbox. Sometimes, simply changing the air filter on a furnace can keep it from putting off a burning smell. A heating and electrical specialist will be able to check your heat pump, furnace system, and electrical units to make sure no wires are burning. © 2021 All Rights Reserved. Turn off the furnace and contact a technician to inspect your system as soon as possible. If you smell something burning, it could be a furnace problem. You should schedule a duct cleaning. This can mean a component of the motor is melting and will smell like something burning. Knowing when the problem is minor and will go away on its own versus a significant issue is important so you can know when to call an experienced HVAC technician to fix your furnace. For HVAC services you can count on and up-front pricing on maintenance or repair, give us a call at 717-773-4561 or sign up for an appointment and get a free quote today! If that’s the case, get off the internet. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Did you just turn on your heater, furnace, or heat pump for the first time in a while and now you notice a burning smell? Turn off your furnace and remove your registers so you can clean or remove any objects that don’t belong. 7 Common Furnace Odors and Their Causes 1. If that’s the case, turn off your system immediately and contact a technician. Though the smell may seem worrisome, you don’t have to panic about damage to your unit. While there are many cases in which you can resolve a burning smell from your furnace, there are times when you definitely need to call in professional assistance to prevent substantial damage to your system and home. ), the inside of your HVAC system will collect dust. In the meantime, turn your unit off and call a specialist. If the smell lingers for a long time, however, contact your maintenance provider to diagnose the issue. This smell is completely normal and should go away within several days. The answer could be something as simple as burning dust to a faulty heater component. If it’s coming from your furnace it could be an overheated motor, worn bearing or a wiring issue – and, it’s time to call your local Carrier HVAC contractor. Bertsch Heating & Cooling. When the furnace kicks on it sucks in air, that air circulates through the duct work. Oil Odors. When you start up your furnace for the first time in the fall or winter, that dust will burn up and emit a burning smell. As for me my sweet smell coming out of the vents was sewer gases. Check each vent register for a pet mess that needs cleaning. Another potential sign of improperly vented CO is a rusted flue. Changing the air filter in your furnace can help as well. It’s possible that you may need to change your oil filter or that a technician made a minor spill while servicing your unit. Over the years, your motor bearings can become worn and break down. Heat Pump Installation & Heat Pump Repair. Our preventative maintenance, cleaning and repair services will stop your furnace’s burning smell at the source. Your heating system will collect dust over the course of the summer and spring while it isn’t in use. However, if the smell persists, you could have a clogged filter that allows dust and dirt to reach your motor. As your furnace warms, the dust and dirt may burn away and smell faintly of smoke. It will likely take just a few minutes for the dust to burn up, and then the smell will dissipate. If your heater smells like it’s burning, here are three potential culprits. Fuel Odors. Generators  Now thru Absolute Solar & Energy Solutions. Check your air conditioner. That odor means electrical components and/or wires are getting scorched because of a short or some other malfunction. Chemical/Burning Plastic Furnace Smells. Throughout the warmer months, dust settles on your furnace’s heat exchanger and ductwork. Have you ever smelled burning plastic before? What Are the Different Types of HVAC Systems? Electrical shorts happen from time to time and in some cases, they can be costly. When the heat is turned on for the first time since this dust accumulation, it will often result in … What Can Cause a Burning Smell From the Furnace Vent? The melting of casings can also cause a burning rubber smell. Electrical shorts in these areas can lead to melted wires or insulators, producing a burnt smell. Over time, these components … Turn it off immediately and reach out to a professional air conditioner specialist. Sometimes a burning plastic smell can be the sign of an electrical failure. 2. 6 Furnace Smells and What They Mean Chemicals. If you can smell the gas coming through the vents, the most likely reason is due to the furnace heat exchanger. This is often the case during the... Heater Burning Off Dust. In some cases, it could be a fire in your home. This is often the case during the winter. If a leak from the roof or plumbing lines is causing rust and corrosion on your flue lines, it’s more than just unattractive. 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