Once you turn on your furnace, you expect it to circulate clean and fresh air throughout your home in Westlake, LA. You shouldn’t ignore any unusual odor from your furnace even if it’s faint because it’s a sign that something may be wrong with the heating equipment. Take a look at some furnace odors that mean something is wrong with your appliance.
1. Musty Furnace Smells
If you notice a musty smell coming from your furnace after turning it on in the fall, it’s a sign of bacterial growth on the AC coil or ductwork. It could also be a sign that your home is due for duct cleaning. The best thing is to call a technician for furnace inspection and cleaning to eliminate the musty smell.
2. Electrical Burning
An electrical burning odor from your furnace signals that it’s overheating from the wear and tear on its components like the blower motor and bearings that cause malfunctioning. The extra heat can melt rubber furnace components, creating sparks. Turn off the heating system when you notice electrical burning to prevent a fire and call a heating repair professional to assess and fix your furnace.
3. Oil Odors
If your oil-fired furnace produces an oil smell, it could be from spilled oil, which often occurs when refueling the heating system before it dissipates entirely. Oil leaks, along with malfunctioning or dirty burners can also cause oil furnace odors. The best solution is to call an HVAC professional to inspect the furnace for oil leaks and repair it.
4. Rotten Eggs
If you notice a smell of rotten eggs that stings your nose or is on the sour side, you should shut off the furnace immediately. The smell of rotten eggs coming from high-efficiency furnaces indicates a failed heat exchanger. It’s a serious issue because a faulty heat exchanger pumps unsafe and dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas throughout the house, which is poisonous.
Your nose can help you detect a damaged or broken furnace. Be sure to call a repair technician if you smell any of the above odd furnace odors. Call Burnworth’s A/C for affordable heating installation and HVAC maintenance today.
Image provided by iStock
