If you have ever been in your laundry or utility room and smelled a burning scent, you understand that it can be hard not to panic. When your furnace has a burning smell, it never seems like a good thing and it is scary to deal with or know what to do. When your furnace has a persistent burning smell, contact the professionals here at Genuine Comfort to check out what is happening. While it is always a good idea to consult HVAC experts when this sort of problem arises, you can continue reading here to learn more about why your furnace has a burning smell and what you can do about it.
Why Your Furnace Has A Burning Smell
Summer To Fall
The first reason why your furnace might have a burning smell would be because it has sat dormant for the entire summer. Over the course of a summer, a furnace can collect dust and other debris, so when the furnace is started, that debris is lit on fire, causing a burning smell.
No One Has Lived In The Home For A While
This same phenomenon can occur when a house has been vacant for a long time. For example, if an owner had a winter home, they would likely experience a burning smell when they turned the furnace on for the first time when visiting the home. Another example might be when you have bought a new-to-you home that has not had anyone living in it for several months or years.
Electrical/Plastic Burning Smell
If the smell coming from your furnace seems to slightly smell like an electrical burn or like plastic, you should reach out to a mechanic immediately. An electrical burning smell could indicate that the furnace’s motor is overheated or that your heat exchanger is broken. If you smell plastic, something might have gotten lodged in your heating system.
Should I Be Concerned About A Burning Smell?
While a burnt scent might seem scary, it is usually something that will go away fairly quickly. Nine times out of ten, a burning smell coming from the furnace is not something that you should be overly concerned about. Most often, the burning scent is not harmful for anyone living in the house, but can be more of an annoyance. However, if the burning smell persists for a long time, or you are concerned about whether an old furnace will continue to work properly, feel free to reach out to us at Genuine Comfort today.
What To Do When Your Furnace Has A Burning Smell
Depending on the circumstances, you should not have to worry much about a burning smell coming from your furnace. However, if you have a burning smell coming from your furnace for a long period of time, you should contact an HVAC professional. However, if after reading this article, you realized that your furnace is probably just burning off debris, there’s not much you have to worry about. To get rid of the smell faster, we suggest opening some windows to let out the smell. You could also leave your furnace on and leave for the day to let it air itself out.
Do You Need Professional Furnace Repairs?
If you are in need of a professional furnace repair, we at Genuine Comfort are here to help. We are experts in the furnace and air conditioning industry, meaning that we have seen many things in terms of repair problems. We can spot (or smell) an HVAC issue a mile away and quickly come up with a proper solution to the issue. Our technicians are talented and experienced and are eager to help improve the quality and temperature of your home. Please reach out to us today if you are in need of furnace maintenance services.
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