If you are a De Pere, WI, area homeowner and have noticed a strange smell coming from your furnace, we understand how alarming it can be. There are actually a wide range of smells that can come from a furnace, and they do not all mean the same thing. The truth is, there are some instances where the smell is not a sign of a major problem. There are other times when a particular type of smell can indicate a service to be scheduled in the near future by a licensed technician. A few types of smells point to an emergency shutdown of your system and for a member of our team to get out to your home as quickly as possible.
While some of these smells are not a cause for alarm, it is always smart to get in touch with a team member at Healthy Home Heating & Cooling LLC for peace of mind and so that we can make sure that the cause of the smell is dealt with.
The Causes Behind Furnace Smells
Burning Smell
If you notice a burning smell from your furnace, the type of burning smell and the time of year are key as to whether there is likely an actual problem. For example, if it is the first time you are firing up the furnace in the fall, it is normal for there to be a burning smell. This is because the smell you are noticing is from the accumulation of dust and debris that has collected over the spring and summer burning off. This smell should dissipate over a few minutes, but can sometimes take as long as a few hours.
An indication that the smell could be more than just collected dust and debris during non-operation is if the smell continues. This means that the blower motor or the furnace could be overheating. Additional evidence of overheating can be if the smell is of burning plastic or appears to be electrical. This could indicate that components or wiring are melting or that the wiring is frayed. If you notice a continual smell, especially if it is like the kind described above, you should shut down your system, exit your home, and call for immediate assistance.
An electrical burning smell can also be an indicator of a cracked furnace exchanger. Your furnace exchanger is designed to exhaust carbon monoxide safely out of your home during its combustion. When the exchanger cracks, carbon monoxide can start leaking into your household. This is of particular concern because this colorless and odorless gas can cause major health risks and even be fatal. To prevent exposure to carbon monoxide, you should always have working carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home, but especially near areas where there is a danger of it leaking.
Other than the smell, here are some other signs that your heat exchanger is cracked:
- Burner flame is yellow instead of blue
- Soot inside of the furnace or on it
- Water near your furnace
- Member of household experiencing flu-like symptoms
Rotten Egg Smell
If there is a rotten egg smell coming from your furnace, this is likely a natural gas leak. This unpleasant scent is added to natural gas to act as a warning that there is leakage. Exposure to natural gas can bring with it a variety of symptoms. These symptoms include nausea, vomiting, nasal irritation, eye irritation, skin rashes, blisters, headache, and dizziness.
There are a number of reasons that a gas leak could be happening with your furnace, and the smart thing to do is to shut down the gas immediately if it is safe to do so. If this cannot be safely done, exit the home first and then call the gas company. Even if you can safely shut it down, you should still go outside after you do so. Once you are safe, give our team a call to go ahead and check out the furnace.
Musty Smell
If there is a musty or damp smell coming from your furnace, this can be attributed to a water leak. This can be due to your furnace’s drain pan having a loose connection. It can also be due to mold and mildew growing in your furnace or in the ductwork. An accumulation of mold and mildew in your ductwork can lead to mold spores being released into your household. This should be dealt with quickly, as it could pose a health risk to you and your loved ones. This is particularly true if anyone in the household suffers from allergies or respiratory illnesses. Prolonged exposure to mold and mildew is also especially problematic for the very young or elderly.
How To Prevent Furnace Smells
Preventing furnace smells means having a furnace that is clean, operating efficiently, is mildew and mold-free, and stays well-maintained. This can feel like a fair amount of upkeep for the average homeowner and requires tasks that are not necessarily wise to go the DIY route on.
The best way to prevent furnace smells is by setting up an annual routine maintenance plan with a licensed technician. Typically, you are going to want to have this scheduled to take place in the fall, ahead of when you are going to need to operate your furnace. Routine maintenance can catch any unseen issues with your furnace so that it is working at optimal condition during the cold months of the year. During a routine maintenance appointment, a professional will clean all of your furnace’s components and find any areas that are due for repair. Maintenance provides a very valuable safeguard for you and your family, prevents any unwanted smells, and gives peace of mind that your system is ready to provide worry-free comfort throughout the winter. Your technician can also give valuable advice and recommendations to employ so that any smells that you have noticed do not happen again.
Your De Pere Furnace Team
If you are in the De Pere area and want to get to the bottom of what is causing your furnace to smell, Healthy Home Heating & Cooling LLC is here to help. Our crew has been working in the industry since 1987, giving us the knowledge and expertise to remedy your heating system issue. In making sure that your furnace is ready for the winter, we call our routine maintenance plan the Peace of Mind Program. With this program, we offer two annual onsite check-ups to ensure that both your heating and cooling are good to go when you need them. Our inspections are thorough, going through a detailed checklist so that you can trust everything is in working order. That is why we call it Peace of Mind. You can also count on us for any installations and repairs you might need as well. To find out more about what we offer homeowners in the De Pere community, give Healthy Home Heating & Cooling LLC a call today.
