Should My New Furnace Smell?

How To Use Your Thermostat For Efficient Heating and Cooling

Few things are better than knowing your old, sputtery furnace has been replaced with a new, reliable system. As you turn it on for the first time, the heat rolls out, and tremendous relief sweeps over you because the nights are getting chillier. However, you might also notice a strange smell. Find out what odors are expected for a new furnace and which ones are worthy of calling an HVAC professional. 

Normal Furnace Smells 

Your furnace is a machine. Occasionally, working machines give off smells as they run as a regular operation. Remember that even typical odors can sometimes lead to calls for furnace service. 

Coating Burnoff 

New furnaces are coated with a special protective finish. As the new furnace heats up for the first time, the protective finish heats up too and is eventually burned off. 

You should not visibly see any smoke from this process and only note a mild burning and lightly chemical smell that only lasts for a few moments. It is important to note that this smell should soon dissipate. If the smell lingers or you do see smoke of any kind, immediately shut off your furnace and call for assistance. 

Dust Burnoff 

Depending on when your furnace was installed, you may also have dust build-up. Dust accumulation includes dirt, small debris, and hair that collect in and on your furnace as it waits for use. When you fire it up to chase the first chill from your home, you may notice a slight burning smell from the dust burnoff too. 

Dust burns off rapidly, so no smoke should be detected. If you smell burning, contact an HVAC professional to determine the cause. Schedule yearly maintenance from an HVAC contractor Santa Rosa to ensure a clean and ready-to-go furnace. 

Abnormal Furnace Smells

Abnormal smells are the warning sign that you need to immediately shut off your furnace and call for an experienced HVAC repair service to evaluate the problem. 

Musty or Mildewy

If your furnace kicks on and you get a whiff of musty, dusty air, it can indicate a mold problem. Have a service person check your furnace to ensure no issues. Then, they assess your ductwork for mold in the home. 

Mold is a severe health hazard that should be remediated as soon as possible for best results. It can also be an unnecessary and high cost to your home, in addition to your medical bills, depending on how long the problem goes on before you notice it. Identifying and rectifying the problem early on is ideal. 

Burning Plastic

Usual smells dissipate within a few minutes, but robust and long-lasting burning smells reminiscent of plastic should be evaluated immediately. 

Electrical

Prolonged burning could indicate a wiring or electrical issue. When furnaces burn too hot, shut-off mechanisms or any number of problems arise, the wiring can melt and burn. At worst, electrical issues can cause fires and other structural damages. 

Blockage

Your furnace could give off a prolonged burning smell if there is a blockage of parts, dust, or anything else. If left unattended, it could become a fire hazard. Sometimes, faulty parts manage to break off and get trapped in the furnace, and, in sporadic cases, other strange objects have landed their way in, too.

Sulfur, Gas, or Rotten Eggs

Natural gas is so dangerous that utility companies add sulfur to alert people when there is a leak. If you smell gas, turn off your furnace, evacuate every living being from your home, and call 911, followed by your trusted HVAC repairman. The potential damages from a gas leak can be devastating. 

For more information on furnace safety and professional HVAC services, contact Next Level HVAC today.