Whenever the temperature dips, we all go into winter mode. If we don’t light the fireplace or heat up the house, we’re more likely to run out of winter energy. And if we don’t have any winter energy left, we’re likely to give up on our plans for the new year. We can try to stay warm by making a fire, but if that’s not possible or we don’t have any kind of fuel to burn, we can try to make our own fuel. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to call the fire department, but you shouldn’t ignore the smell, either. Some odors are normal, and others are signs of potential danger.
It is not necessary for the reader to know about all of the smells that can occur, but it is extremely recommended that the reader knows about the various smells that can occur and the meaning behind them so that they can stay alert.
Is It Normal for Your Heater to Smell Like It’s Burning?
If you do this several times over the course of your time in the city, this is totally normal. If you smell smoke, this is normal. If you smell something that smells of burning, this is normal. If you get a sense that your heater is burning, go to your house and turn it off immediately. If you don’t have a house or if you live in a building, go to your neighbor’s house and ask them if they are okay. If they are okay, call the fire department immediately. If they are not okay, call 911.
Although it does mean there’s dust in your heating unit, it also means that you should remove the dust ASAP. Furthermore, this is actually not a sign of electrical problems as the dust is poisonous and could lead to a poisonous and dangerous fire.
Sometimes, we may experience various smells from our heating units that we should consider when determining the type of smell that we should be creating in our marketing materials.
Why Does It Smell When You Turn on the Heat?
If your Hoovers, heaters and radiators smell bad, they could be due to a number of different problems. Here are some common causes of a burning smell when you turn on the heating and what you should do in each situation.
1. Burning Dust Smell
The burning smell coming from your heater occurs most often when the heating is turned on for the first time in the winter season if a clean, full fuel supply is available. If many months have passed since the last use, dust and other types of debris could have accumulated on the heating system and then be ignited when the heater is turned on for the first time. If this is the case, your heating unit may be in danger of catching on fire, so it is important to remove all of the dust from the heating system.
If you smell burning dust in the house, you should not worry. Once the dust and debris have burned off within the home, the odor should go away. If this odor lingers around or becomes stronger, turn your unit off and contact an HVAC technician to clean the system.
2. Musty Smell
If your furnace has been turned on for the first time of the season, and you have access to the ventilation system, you may notice a musty or moldy smell coming from the furnace. The smell is not necessarily in the furnace itself nor in the air that you breathe in, but it is the result of the air in the system. This air is full of dust and debris that have built up in the system over time and that is not burned off when the furnace is turned on. If this air is not cleaned regularly, it can create a musty smell in the house.
Sometimes it takes more than others to recreate a just plain moldy air conditioner. If you notice stains, odors, or the build-up of mold on your unit, contact an HVAC expert to perform a professional cleaning and inspection of your system.
To avoid this musty smell, check the humidifier regularly and clean it whenever necessary. Either dispose of the humidifier pad or if the washable pad is included, create a solution that’s equal parts water and vinegar. Stick the humidifier pad in the solution and leave it to soak for a couple of hours. Then, clean it with a soft cloth and flush the unit with clean water.
3. Electrical Burning Smell
If there is a burnt smell from your heating unit, this may be more serious and might describe an electrical phenomenon. You may need to call an HVAC specialist to look at your unit. Sometimes, the heating element could be burnt out and needs to be replaced.
In some cases, this smell can come from a foreign substance inside your HVAC system; this may involve a wire or cable in the system, etc. Remove the object and check it out. If necessary, contact a licensed professional.
In other cases, the electrical burning smell may indicate a serious electrical issue. If you live in a structure in which the temperature is less than 60 degrees, the electrical burning smell may indicate that there is a more serious electrical issue. If you live in a structure in which the temperature is higher than 60 degrees, the electrical burning smell may indicate a more serious electrical issue.
Over time, if the inclination of the heater is not adjusted, the machine may not intelligently use the amount of heat available, with the result that extra heat may build up in the system and require waste heat to cool it. If this happens, the smell of waste heat may be detectable from the interior of the house.
This heat can be sufficient to dissolve the protection on the wires, and soon your heating unit could deliver sparks and electrical shorts that produce the smell. In the event that not managed, these softening wires could deliver sufficient heat to be risky.
If you smell an electrical consuming scent and it isn’t the consequence of something caught in the ventilation work, quickly switch your unit off and contact an accomplished technician. A more seasoned heating unit will have the ability to dissipate the heat more effectively than a more up to date one, so you will likely need to have it settled. If you are in the middle of a heated argument with your partner or spouse, you may not want to take the risk of turning off your heating unit.
4. Rotten Eggs Smell
If you have a propane furnace that’s giving off a foul odor due to gas leakage or a sulfur or rotten egg smell, this is probably a sign of a natural gas leak. You should leave the premises immediately and call your gas company to let them know about the leak. A gas leak is an extremely dangerous situation and could cause a fire or explosion.
Natural gas is extremely flammable, and the combustibility of natural gas makes it a great fuel source for appliances in your house. If you smell gas and your appliance doesn’t work, it’s likely that natural gas is leaking from your appliance.
Natural gas does not have the distinct odor the cars that turn on in a gas station use when they run out. Did you know that natural gas does not have its own distinctive odor? This is because gas is a clear, odorless liquid in the natural state. As the gas is heated, it begins to break down the molecules of natural gas, which give off their own distinctive odor, which is similar to that of a rotten egg.
5. Pet Odors
Sometimes, turning on your furnace will produce the odor of pet hair because of the residual heat from the furnace. If you notice this, once you have cleaned up the hairs and vents, you can eliminate the issue. If you can’t get the smell to go away, you may need to call your veterinarian to check on the health of your pet. They may recommend that you try to find your pet’s bedding, as pets sometimes prefer to sleep in certain places. Once you have found the bedding, clean it out. Then, vacuum it out and put it in a place where your pet can’t find it. This will also prevent your furnace from having to work harder to keep your home warm.
6. Sewage Stench
If that you get a whiff of sewage emerging from the vents, there may be a torn wastewater line or open sewer line not a long way from the heating framework. Immediately review the outer vents, which ought to assist with deciding the wellspring of the smell. You could have to contact a handyman to fix the issue.
7. Smell of Chemicals
If the smell of chemicals from a malfunctioning furnace has a distinct chemical smell similar to formaldehyde, chances are that the furnace’s heat exchanger is broken. The heat exchanger is the metallic circle that takes the heat from the gas flame. In the event that the heat exchanger breaks, the furnace will not be able to take in enough oxygen to generate heat, and the furnace will begin to smell like gas. This may be caused by a build-up of hydrogen sulfide gas in the furnace, which is created when the gas flame and the metal of the heat exchanger combine. The heat exchanger functions by cycling heat from the combustion chamber into the plenum, and if this part is broken, the risk of fire increases dramatically. Carbon monoxide fumes may also be released, which have no odor or color.
If you smell chemicals, start the furnace off immediately, go outside and turn the furnace off immediately. Turn on the fan and open some windows, contact your HVAC professional and follow this step to stay safe.
8. Smoke Smell
Assuming you smell smoke coming from your heater, quickly switch it off and open a few windows. This smell might happen if the heater fireplace, otherwise called an “exhaust vent” or “pipe,” is impeded. The burning exhaust from the heater needs to head off to some place, and in the event that it can’t get away from through the vent pipe, it is compelled to go somewhere else.
In such a circumstance, evaluating your safety is basic. For example, on the off chance that the smell is weak, simply open a few windows for ventilation and contact an expert. In any case, on the off chance that the smell comes out of nowhere or is solid, it would be more secure to leave your home briefly until a technician shows up and decides the wellspring of the smoke.
9. Oil
If you smell oil after turning on your heater, this likely means that the filter on the furnace is clogged. If the filter on your furnace doesn’t clog yet, the oil smell may be a sign that the filter needs to be replaced. The oil filter in your furnace is one of the most important parts of your furnace, as it keeps oil from escaping. When the filter is clogged, oil will leak out and make your furnace smell like oil. It’s important to have the filter changed in a timely manner to avoid the oil smell.
When to Call an Expert
Some smells cause little trouble, while others mean you should call a professional – often quickly.:
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Burning dust: In most cases, you do not need to call an HVAC professional. The lack of smoky odor on your unit may be due to accumulated dust, the presence of soot, or air stagnation. If residual soot or dust remains on your unit after a few days, it may be time to call an HVAC professional to check your unit.
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Mold or mildew: In most cases, if you smell mold or mildew after turning on your heating system, you should treat it like burning dust: wait for it to burn off on its own, if necessary, then get up off the couch for a good sniff of air to make sure the mold or mild, won’t grow back. If you smell mold or mildew after turning on your heating system, call a professional. Mold and mildew may cause health problems for some people.
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Electrical burning: If you notice the smell of something in the ductwork, such as a toy or spill, and removing it causes the smell to go away, then shoving it back up out of sight is not a good solution. You should call a professional. If you notice the smell of something in the ductwork, such as a toy or spill, and removing it causes the smell to go away. The service technician should turn off your electrical unit and contact an HVAC expert immediately. An electrical issue can cause the blower motor to bind or seize up, which may lead to thermal issues and cause the unit to reach temperatures high enough to cause a fire.
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Rotten eggs: The smell of rotten eggs implies that the food in your house is going to go bad. If you smell rotten eggs, you must evacuate your house and call your gas company immediately. If your food tastes divine and smells like death, you should stay home and call the doctor immediately. It is very important that you do not open your oven to check the oven temperature while you are in there. This will cause your food to become contaminated and you will have to throw it away.
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Pets: If you smell pet odors when you turn on your heater, by all means call an expert. Instead, go check out your heater’s ventilator registers on the floor level. Chances are this pet odor is coming from a mess that the pet has made on the carpet or furniture. If you do not have pets, it is best to wait until the smell goes away before you try to clean the mess.
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Sewage: If you smell sewage when your heater is turned on, you may need to call a professional plumber, as this air conditioner smell may indicate a sewer or wastewater line that needs repair. In some cases, it may be possible to remedy the problem yourself. You may want to consider getting a drain snake.
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Chemicals: If you smell one similar to formaldehyde, especially one like formaldehyde, you should definitely call an HVAC technician right away. But first, don’t forget to close the windows but leave some space open to breathe. The smell of formaldehyde-like chemical seems to indicate a failure of your heat exchanger, which hides the chances of a fire.
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Smoke: If you smell smoke, call a specialist. Nonetheless, before you call, it’s critical to guarantee your wellbeing, which will rely upon the force of the smoke. On the off chance that the smell is easy, simply open up a couple of windows for ventilation prior to calling. In the event that the smell major areas of strength for is shows up out of nowhere, nonetheless, we suggest that you leave your home right away and remain there until the technician shows up and fixes the issue. Smoke coming from a heater is typically brought about by a blockage in the vent pipe, which powers the smoke to escape out through the ventilation work. This blockage may be caused by a buildup of soot, dust, or pet hair. Regardless of the cause, it’s essential to have this issue dealt with right away.
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Oil: If you smell oil, check your filter before you call an HVAC professional – often a clogged filter with oil can cause the smell. If you change out the filter, then the odor should disappear. However, if the smell persists, call an HVAC specialist.
How Best American HVAC Can Help
The smells coming from heating units can indicate a lot of different types of problems — some of which need the professionals at Best American HVAC. If you’re a homeowner living in and around Los Angeles, CA, you can trust our reliable HVAC repair and maintenance services and plumbing solutions.
We also strive to provide you with the best customer service possible by providing a planning system that allows us to provide service on a first-come, first-served basis. To get in touch with us, feel free to fill out our form or, if it’s a more urgent matter, call us at 1 866-462-7629. Yes, we look forward to helping you with your HVAC and plumbing needs.