A burning smell coming from your furnace doesn’t necessarily mean you need to call the local fire department immediately. If it’s the first time you’ve smelled it, however, you should have it checked out by heating and cooling professionals like those at M & M Heating & Air Conditioning Service Co.
Here are some of the likely causes of the burning smell:
Burning plastic. This type of smell often indicates the need for heating repairs. This is because the odor of melting plastic usually points to something that has somehow infiltrated your furnace, which could either be a system component or a foreign object.
If you’re already detecting such an odor, turn off your heater immediately, as the fumes given off may not be safe to breathe. We also suggest calling in a professional to locate the source of the problem and address it.
Burning dust. This is common when you turn on your heating unit after a long period of non-use. By then, the dust and other debris will have settled on the heat exchanger, burners and other heating components, so you may smell a smoky odor as these particles burn off.
This isn’t a cause for concern, however, because the smell should go away once the dust and other particles have completely burned away. However, if the smell still persists, you’ll need to have a trusted heating and air conditioning technician address the issue.
Burning electrical odor. This can be very serious, as it could indicate an overheated blower motor caused by a clogged air filter. If you haven’t changed your air filter in a while, then it’s likely very dirty by now. Make sure to swap it for a new one and let the blower motor cool off before you turn the system back on.
When looking for a trusted installer for heating and air conditioning units, you can count on M & M Heating & Air Conditioning Service Co. to get the job done right. Call us today at (209) 952-6580, or you can reach us online to schedule maintenance services.
