For some people, the smell of broccoli cooking on the stove is an invitation to run to the kitchen, salivating and with fork in hand. For others, it's an invitation to run out the back door, not to return until dinner is safely over.
Everyone interprets smells differently, so if you're detecting “funny” smells coming from your furnace right after it fires up, it's time to subject it to a sniff test so that you can decode it and know how to respond.
But know this: Most of the time, a heating system that smells “funny” is no laughing matter. Consider:
- A gas or fuel-like smell, which can mimic the odor of rotten eggs, is a sure sign of trouble. At this point, turn off your furnace, call the gas company to check for a gas leak and then call a heating system service company like Experts In Your Home for an inspection.
- An electrical burning smell, which could be caused by several factors. An object, such as a plastic toy, could be lodged in the ductwork. Open your registers and remove any foreign object stuck there; it could be overheating every time your furnace fires up, triggering the burning smell. But this type of smell also could be a sign of a more serious problem, such as your furnace motor overheating, a cracked heat exchanger or wiring damage. This is the time to call immediately for a heating system inspection and repair.
- A smokey smell, which is usually caused by a blocked chimney. This condition sends smoke back to the furnace and through your ductwork. The blockage will need to be removed and your chimney cleaned.
- A musty smell, which often means that mold is trapped in your furnace filter or humidifier filter, if you have a humidifier attached to your furnace. To eradicate this smell, replace your furnace filter or clean your humidifier filter with equal parts of white vinegar and water. Soak the filter in the solution for an hour, rinse it with cool water and then wipe it with a dry cloth before you reinstall it.
- A dusty smell, by far the most common “furnace smell” and one that is expected when your furnace is first pressed into duty for the season. This is normal because as the furnace channels warm air through the ducts, it stirs up dust that has built up in the ducts. After a few runs, this smell should dissipate, but it's still a good idea to check your furnace filter. Hold it up to a light and if you can't see through it because of a buildup of dirt, replace it. Running your furnace with a clean filter is one of the simplest but best steps you can take to ensure that your furnace runs smoothly and efficiently.
*Important note: Unfortunately, the most serious sign of furnace trouble cannot be traced to a detectable odor: it's a carbon monoxide leak. CO is an odorless, invisible gas that naturally emanates from a gas furnace. Dangerous levels of CO in your home can be life-threatening. This is why you should have a CO detector installed within 30 feet of your furnace. It will alert you to high levels of CO so that you can call for what may likely be a heating system repair.
At this time of year, it's always a good idea to be proactive with your furnace, whether or not you smell something funny when it lights up. Contact Experts In Your Home in Chico for an annual furnace maintenance checkup and ductwork inspection and we'll ensure that your heating system runs as it should – whether you're serving cabbage for dinner or not.
You can even do some season heating system maintenance on your own! Learn more by downloading the free checklist below.
