HELP! There’s A Burning Smell Coming from My Furnace

Your furnace is essential to the comfort of your home and family during the winter. If you are like most, your furnace isn’t something you think about unless there’s an issue. One of the most common questions we hear is: “Why does my furnace smell funny?” Unfortunately, there are several causes that can make your furnace smell funny. That’s why we’ve created this simple guide to understanding the common furnace smells and what you should do about them.

It’s not uncommon for homeowners to report the smell of burning dust coming from their furnace. This generally happens at the beginning of winter. During warmer months, your furnace may experience a slight dust buildup on the heat exchanger. As the colder weather approaches and we turn on our heaters for the first time, the blower and heat exchanger burn this dust off and the smell travels through the ducts. In most cases, this smell should go away on its own within a few hours. If the smell persists, it may be a good idea to schedule a maintenance call for an internal cleaning.

My Furnace Smells Like Burning Plastic

If you turn your furnace on and it smells like burning plastic, it’s important to be cautious. This type of burning smell indicates a potentially dangerous situation. The smell of burning plastic can be a sign that internal components of your heating system are overheating or rubbing against other moving parts of your system. This smell could also indicate that the internal wiring may be getting too hot, which could possibly cause an electrical fire if left unchecked. If your furnace smells like burning plastic, it’s important to call a reputable HVAC service provider to inspect and diagnose your system right away.

There’s A Gas Smell Coming from My Furnace: The smell of gas, or rotten eggs, could indicate a potentially dangerous situation and should be taken seriously. If you think you smell gas, turn your furnace off immediately and contact the gas company right away. Your second call should be to a reputable, certified heating and air conditioning professional who can ensure that your HVAC system is working properly.

Other Furnace Smells? Champion & Nash has a team of certified technicians available to help. If your furnace smells or makes strange noises - Give us a call.