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Why Does My Furnace Smell?
Posted On: October 31, 2024
If your furnace has an unusual smell, it could be caused by a variety of issues. Here’s a breakdown of common furnace smells and what they might mean:
1. Burning Dust Smell
- Cause: If the furnace hasn’t been used for a while (like at the start of winter), dust will often accumulate on the heating components. When the furnace is turned on, the dust burns off, producing a distinctive smell.
- Solution: This is usually normal and should go away within a few hours. If it persists, replace or clean the air filter and vacuum around the furnace.
2. Musty or Mildew Smell
- Cause: Moisture can build up in the ductwork, leading to mold or mildew growth, especially if the furnace hasn’t been used in a while or if there is a humidity problem.
- Solution: Have a professional inspect and clean your ductwork. Consider using a dehumidifier in your home to control moisture levels.
3. Electrical or Metallic Burning Smell
- Cause: An electrical or metallic smell can indicate overheating of furnace components, often caused by worn-out parts, faulty wiring, or even a blower motor that is burning out.
- Solution: Shut off the furnace and call a technician, as electrical issues can be hazardous.
4. Rotten Egg or Sulfur Smell
- Cause: This smell typically indicates a natural gas leak, as utility companies add a sulfur-like odor to natural gas to make leaks easier to detect.
- Solution: Turn off the furnace immediately, leave your home, and contact your gas company or emergency services.
5. Oil or Smoky Smell
- Cause: If you have an oil furnace, a smoky smell could indicate incomplete combustion or an oil leak. It may also happen if the air filter or burner is dirty.
- Solution: Shut down the furnace and have it inspected, as burning oil or smoke can cause health issues.
6. Chemical Smell
- Cause: A chemical odor could indicate a cracked heat exchanger, which might allow carbon monoxide to leak into the air.
- Solution: This is a serious issue. Turn off your furnace, open windows, and have a professional inspect it right away.
Preventive Tips
- Change air filters regularly (every 1 to 3 months).
- Schedule an annual furnace tune-up to ensure safe and efficient operation.
- Check for any obvious blockages or leaks around the unit.
If you’re unsure about the smell or if it persists, calling a professional HVAC technician is the safest option.
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See What Our Customers Are Saying:
Aug 10, 2019
Professionally done and took care to cover all entry floors to the house for the installers to remove the old furnace and install a new furnace.
I also made recommendations of the tankless water heater that we had installed and items to address. We did not know they also installed tankless water heaters.
Jul 21, 2019
Price was not the cheapest nor the most expensive of my quotes. It's the quality of the installation that makes for a good AC system. The twins' knowledge & professionalism was evident in the small details:
Very clean work. Greg made sure that the refrigerant level & temperature were correct. They reinstall the insulation & vapor barrier around the wall. The outside electrical cords were secured to the wall. Proud to support this local company. Thank you.
Jun 11, 2019
Great team of guys came to do the work. Very professional. Arrived on time worked very efficiently and were very clean. They answered any questions we had without hesitation. The air conditioner works great and is so quiet. I highly recommend them and they don't try to up-sell anything right from the start.
May 10, 2019
The service was prompt, professional and very courteous. Competitive price. Would highly recommend this company.
Jul 20, 2019
Excellent workmanship, and quick response. Would recommend Twintech to anyone.
Nov 11, 2019
My existing 15-yr old A/C went down on me during the first major heatwave of the season. Researched my options, as well as a few different installers, and decided on Twintech.
They gave me confidence right from the beginning. Extremely knowledgeable. Their communication was excellent - always responded to questions quickly. Given we were in a heatwave, they were fully booked. However, within days they were able to fit me in due to a cancellation. Upon learning that the Amana unit I was getting installed was on backorder, TwinTech went to bat for me with the manufacturer and was able to get me the next model up within a day, for the same price - Amazing!
As far as the installation was concerned, I couldnt be more impressed. These guys were clearly very experienced and did a fantastic job. Very clean, polite, timely & informative. They even thoroughly sealed all the exposed gaps in my ductwork. Ive had plenty of heating and cooling work done in the past and have never used the same contractor twice because Ive never been very impressed. However, from now on, Ill always be contacting Twintech first!
Jun 19, 2019
They were very friendly and took care of everything. The install looks great (and works great), they were very knowledgeable. Installed our a/c efficiently despite the difficult install location both inside and outside and they made it work.
Jun 12, 2019
Phenomenal service, so glad I found these guys a few years back after being "hosed" badly by 3 other companies. I've recommended them to so many, and they all are so thankful.
May 1, 2019
This company is fantastic. Dave came out and gave me a very honest and reasonable quote, unlike a quote received from another company. I had a bunch of questions that were easily answered and when I had questions regarding heating/cooling a previously unheated room above the Garage, Dave arranged for Greg to come out for an assessment of this new space and gave me his recommendation along with his professional thoughts on all of my options.
These guys have been nothing but Professional, honest and helpful along the way. I can't recall the two other guys doing the install, but they were great as well. Good workmanship, everything was cleaned up and everything functions as promised. I could go on and on about my experience, but it's all positive so what more could you want?
Give them a call, see for yourself. If I had to buy another furnace/AC or heat pump, they'd be my first call.
Apr 16, 2019
I hired twin tech to convert my townhouse heating from electric to gas and install a furnace and a/c unit. I had talked with many other vendors, and received several quotes, but chose them, and very happy I did. Here are some of the reasons why:
1. They were realistic about the timeline for the work, when they could start and how long it would take. (They said upfront, it was their busy season and would need to get back to me in 3 weeks, which they did):
2. They had a quote with options for me. They were clear about the entertainment of what they would and would not do (theyd build duct work, id need another contractor to box in ductwork). This allowed me to plan as I was my own general contractor for my renovations).
3. They spoke to me in a language I understood, neither too technical nor too simple. They answered all my questions as I had them. Everyone is so lovely to work with, the sales team and the contractors who are worked in my home.
4. Its been 4 m since the work was complete. They still answer my emails and my furnace is working very well!
I unabashedly recommend! Price, customer care and quality workmanship were all amazing!
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