Ideally, the air emanating from your heating system should be clean and refreshing. Sometimes, the air may have an unusual smell. While some smells are harmless, others could indicate a serious problem with your system. Here are some useful tips to help you identify heating system odors, their causes, and the steps you can take to eliminate them:
Rotten Eggs
Most utility providers treat natural gas with a strong smell of rotten eggs. This allows you to detect a leak easily. Leaking natural gas is a serious issue, so don’t take a rotten egg smell lightly. Open your windows, evacuate your family from the house immediately, and then call your gas company.
Burning Dust or Mustiness
This smell is often the result of a furnace that’s been switched on after a long period of dormancy. It gradually disappears as your furnace burns away the dirt and dust that’s collected on it and in your ductwork. If the odor persists, changing your air filter should eliminate it.
Electrical Smell
An odor that resembles burning electrical components could be a warning sign of a potential fire hazard. It could be caused by a damaged rubber component or an overheating metal component. Turn off your heating system and contact an HVAC technician to check and fix the problem.
Oil
An oily smell often indicates that you have a clogged furnace filter. Replacing the filter should resolve the issue. If the odor persists, you probably have an oil leak. Call a professional.
Smoke
A smoke odor often results from a blocked chimney, which makes smoke go through your air ducts. Cut the power to your furnace as soon as you smell smoke and seek professional help. Having the chimney professionally cleaned should get rid of the odor.
Scheduling fall preventive maintenance is the best way to prevent these issues from arising. To learn more about heating system odors, contact Ace Hardware Home Services. We’ve been proudly serving the Dayton area with superior HVAC products and services since 1978.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
