You should pay close attention if your Georgetown, IN furnace starts to smell bad. Ignoring the odors could allow a developing problem to spiral out of control. Below is a list of four furnace odors that you should never ignore.
Dust Burning
The smell of burning dust is pretty common and doesn’t usually indicate a serious problem. Your furnace is off during the summer and might collect lots of dust during this time. When you turn it on for the first time, the dust burns off and emits the smell.
The smell of burning dust should go away after the furnace runs for a short time. If the smell persists, and there’s constant dust in the air, you might want to contact an HVAC technician for support. This issue could worsen your indoor air quality.
Burning Plastic/h2>
If it smells like the plastic coverings of wires are burning, this usually indicates an issue with overheating. There’s also the possibility that there’s an issue with the blower motor or some other electrical parts. Continuing to run the furnace in this condition is a fire hazard, so it’s best to shut it down and seek professional help.
Rotten Eggs
If you have a gas furnace and it smells of rotten eggs, there could be a gas leak. Natural gas doesn’t have an odor, but gas companies add a scent to make leaks evident.
If you detect the odor of rotten eggs near your furnace, turn it off, call your gas company, and exit the house until a professional has taken care of the problem. A potential gas leak is a dangerous situation, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
A Chemical-Like Smell or Oil
If you smell oil or something like an unknown chemical, you might have an oil leak if it’s an oil furnace. For a gas furnace, a chemical smell could mean something is wrong with the heat exchanger.
Addressing weird furnace odors can keep you safe and prevent serious issues. Contact Lamb’s Heating & Air Conditioning for a professional furnace repair.
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