In our climate, you really want to know you can rely on your heat when the winter winds start to blow. When you first need it in the fall, and every time after that, you want warm comfort, not worries and repairs! One thing that can sometimes cause major concern is when a heating system makes an odd odor.
A furnace may smell for a variety of reasons. Does it signal a serious problem? Sometimes, it’s extremely serious. But other times, it’s nothing to worry about. How can you tell whether a smell from your heating system means you need furnace repair? Here are some helpful pointers for you.
What Furnace Smells Mean You Need Furnace Repair?
You may need furnace repair if your furnace smells like burning plastic, scorched metal, dead fish, or rotten eggs. These odors can point to overheating parts, electrical problems, or a possible gas leak.
- Dusty startup smell: A dusty odor is usually normal when the furnace first turns on for the season, as long as it fades quickly.
- Burning plastic smell: This may mean a component is overheating or something inside the furnace is melting.
- Scorched metal smell: A hot metallic odor can signal overheated parts or a failing furnace component.
- Fish-like smell: A dead fish odor may point to an electrical issue, which should be checked by a professional.
- Rotten egg smell: This can indicate a gas leak and should be treated as an emergency.
- Ongoing or strong odors: Any smell that does not go away quickly should be inspected by a furnace repair service.
A brief dusty smell may not require repair, but burning, electrical, metallic, or rotten egg odors are warning signs that your home furnace repair needs should be handled promptly.
Dust
The first time you turn your heating system on in the fall, it will heat up and scorch any dust that is in and on the system. If you’ve had routine maintenance done this fall, it’s much less likely to happen, and if it does—because of dust elsewhere in your HVAC system—it won’t be as severe.
If you do smell this, it’s not really a malfunction that requires repair. What it needs is fresh air! Open your windows, even though it’s chilly out, and you should notice that the smell is gone within an hour or so. You’ve only got a problem if the smell doesn’t go away, or if it smells like something besides dust is burning.
Overheating
When you smell something more like scorched metal or burning plastic, it’s likely that you’ve got an overheating component. This is most likely to be the motor that powers the blower fan. Prompt repairs could ensure that the motor can be fixed. Continuing to overheat it by postponing repairs could lead to a totally burned-out motor that has to be replaced! If you’re concerned that you might be having this issue, schedule repair right away.
Electrical Fire
Here’s a trivia question for you. What do dead fish and electrical fires have in common? The answer is that they both discharge ammonia into the air. That means they have a very similar smell. If you haven’t got any dead fish lying around, but it smells like you do, your issue is serious.
Start by turning off the heating system entirely. Don’t just switch off the thermostat: actually shut down the furnace. Then call for emergency repairs. An electrical fire is a terrifying risk that you do not need to take. Don’t turn the heat on again until the repairs are complete.
Gas Leak
This calls for a trivia question, too: what does natural gas smell like? The answer is absolutely nothing! So how will you detect an odor if you’ve got a gas leak? That’s thanks to an additive, mercaptan, which gives gas its distinctive, eggy odor.
A smell of gas in your home is an emergency. Shut off the furnace, or all gas to the house, if you can do it quickly and easily. But most importantly, evacuate. Bring family members and pets to a safe location and call your natural gas provider’s emergency number or 911.
If you have any other questions about odd odors or furnace repair in Winnetka, IL, we’re happy to help!
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Is a dusty smell from my furnace normal?
Answer: A dusty burning smell is often normal when you first turn on the furnace in the fall. Dust can collect on and inside the heating system while it sits unused, then scorch as the furnace heats up. Open windows for fresh air, and the smell should fade within about an hour.
Question: Why does my furnace smell like burning plastic or scorched metal?
Answer: A burning plastic or scorched metal smell can mean a furnace component is overheating. The blower fan motor is a common concern, and delaying repairs may allow the part to burn out completely. Turn the system off and schedule furnace repair before using it again.
Question: What does a fishy smell near my furnace mean?
Answer: A fishy odor can point to an electrical problem, especially if there is no obvious source like food or trash. Electrical issues can create serious fire risks, so shut the furnace down completely and call for emergency repair. Do not run the heat again until it has been inspected.
Question: What should I do if my furnace smells like rotten eggs?
Answer: A rotten egg smell may indicate a natural gas leak because gas companies add mercaptan to make leaks easier to detect. Leave the home right away with family members and pets. From a safe location, call your gas provider’s emergency number or 911.
Question: When should I call for furnace repair because of a smell?
Answer: Call for furnace repair if the odor does not go away after about an hour, smells like burning plastic, scorched metal, fish, or rotten eggs, or returns every time the furnace runs. These smells can signal overheating parts, electrical hazards, or a possible gas leak.
Contact ServiceMax with any questions about your heating system.