Here’s What These Different Furnace Odors Mean

An HVAC system balances your home’s temperature to make it a comfortable place to live in, regardless of the seasons. Whether heating keeps you warm during snowfall or distributes cool air throughout the hot summers, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system built into your house is valuable. With air constantly circulating through your vents, it’s natural to smell something different now and then. However, not all scents are signs of a clean and healthy airflow. If you smell something unfamiliar, then it might be a sign that your HVAC system needs repair. Here are some common furnace odors and what they mean. 

Sulfuric or Rotten Egg Smell

Natural gas is typically odorless and is used to power your furnace and other appliances. However, they are also extremely flammable and pose a significant risk to home furnaces. Gas companies mitigate this by adding a chemical to natural gas, which is responsible for the sulfuric or rotten egg-like smell. The second you smell rotten eggs in your home and find no evidence of any in the house, then it’s probably a gas leak that needs immediate attention from an HVAC technician. 

Sweaty Socks

Yet another distinct and unpleasant smell, this may be a sign that your furnace has an issue as much as it means your laundry needs washing. This particular smell could mean that your furnace coils have excess bacterial growth from condensation build-up between cold and warm weather. Getting in touch with trusted HVAC companies can resolve this issue in no time. 

Metallic or Plastic Smells

Furnaces are naturally designed to withstand an incredible amount of heat due to how they function. However, this also means that the different components in the furnace can fail over time and overheat. Burning plastic or metal odors that are present every time you turn up your heater is a probable sign that a part of the furnace is overheating. Switch off your HVAC system immediately and schedule a visit with an expert for heating repair.

Mildew or Moldy Odor

The familiar smell of mold or mildew could be yet another sign that something’s amiss with your HVAC systems. This requires immediate action because such odors mean that a fungus is growing in your ductwork. Prolonged mold exposure is detrimental to your family’s health, so getting this resolved should be your priority the second you spot it. 

Burning Dust

Burning dust is a very common smell present when the furnace is switched on for the first time after a couple of seasons. This is the only odor on this list that should not raise any alarms since it doesn’t cause any damage or harm. Burning dust is literally just that: dust that has come into contact with heat. It is a normal scent that should dissipate after a short while and after several uses of your furnace.

Conclusion

There are different ways to tell if certain things in your home are in good working order. With heating, the smells around your house should tell you plenty. Whether it’s a strong rotten egg smell or the distinct odor of burning metal and plastic, knowing what each scent means for your furnace will allow you to take quick action and prevent more serious repairs later on. When in doubt about your system’s effectiveness, remember that your nose just might be able to tell you. 

Are you in need of reliable Chicago heating and cooling? At Aircor Air Conditioning and Heating, we specialize in residential and commercial aircon installations as well as conditioning and heating. For furnace heating repair and other HVAC services, get in touch with us today!



Previous
Previous

7 Signs Your That Your Furnace Needs an Urgent Repair

Next
Next

Common HVAC FAQs