Have you ever noticed an unusual smell when you turned on your furnace? If so, don’t be worried, at least not just yet. Older furnaces are infamous for releasing particular scents. Now while some odors can be normal or a sign you need to look at your unit, others can mean something is wrong. If you want to know the difference, read the following that we at Beavercreek Heating and Cooling compiled to raise awareness.
BAD SMELLS:
Chemicals
When you smell something coming from your furnace that resembles a chemical smell, this is the most significant sign of a fracture in your heat exchanger. The heat exchangers’ primary function is to get the heat out of the combustion chamber and then take it out of your home. This could be very dangerous because it could easily start a fire or release carbon monoxide into the home. Because of this, make sure that your carbon monoxide detector constantly has new batteries. That’s why it’s a good idea to change out those batteries before you turn on your furnace.
Electrical Burning Smell
The electrical wiring inside your unit can be extremely close together and at times, and at times it may even become unraveled. If you smell an electrical burning smell, it could indicate your unit is overheating, or the wires are tangled, preventing them from doing their job correctly. Keep in mind, these wires are beside metal that could cause them to heat up and catch on fire. Make sure if you notice anything like this to the turn off your unit and give us a call.
Smoke
Smoke is probably the worst thing you could smell coming out of your furnace. Having smoke coming from your furnace could suggest only one thing, a blocked chimney. When a chimney is blocked, there is nowhere for the smoke from the pilot light to travel other than back into your residence. You will need to shut down your furnace promptly if this happens and then promptly give us a call.
SMELLS THAT AREN’T SO BAD:
Dusty Smell
While your furnace lays idle all summer, it’s normal for your unit to get dusty. This is the most frequent call we get when a furnace is not operating correctly. If it happens, find your filter and replace it.
If you proceed to run your unit like this, it can lead to higher energy bills and far more severe problems down the road. Don’t put off simple smells because it may mean that no air being able to enter the unit.
Oil Smell
When smelling oil, it simply means it’s time to change your filter. It is probably obstructed and needs to be replaced. Most HVAC companies carry filters of all sizes, or you could go to Home Depot. If the smell continues after changing the air filter, give us a call before it leads to a breakdown.
Musty Smell
It is common after turning on your unit after long periods with it being off to smell something musty. You probably need to clean off your unit just before using it further. Now, if the smell continues, you should give us a call so we can check your unit for mold. If your air seems damper and smells, this is the biggest sign of mold. Having mold run through your vents can be very noxious and is not a job for just anyone to clean out.
If you have any more concerns beyond what is above or have more questions, please make sure to call Beavercreek Heating & Cooling at 937-708-8527 or schedule an appointment now online at www.beavercreekheatingandcooling.com/schedule-now/.
