Heating systems are known for giving off a familiar smell the first few times you run them when itandrsquo;s cold out. However, these systems can also give off other odors that donandrsquo;t quite smell right. Itandrsquo;s important to know what could be causing these heating system odors, so you can have your system checked if needed.
ELECTRICAL ODORS
If your heating system gives off a smell that resembles electrical burning, it could mean that an internal component is overheating or a bad wire condition. These are potentially dangerous situations, since they could lead to a fire. In order to reduce this risk, shut off your furnace and have an HVAC technician inspect it.
MOLDY OR FOUL ODORS
Heating system odors can resemble the smell of a locker room if bacteria has built up inside. This buildup can cause mold to grow inside your heating system, which lowers the air quality in your home and puts your health at risk. If you have this type of odor, itandrsquo;s best to have an HVAC technician check your system and clean the coils and other components inside it.
MUSTY ODORS
Itandrsquo;s common for heating systems to give off a musty smell when you first use them for the season. This happens when dust and other debris build up inside. This odor should go away after a few days, but you should replace your air filter and have an HVAC technician inspect it if it continues.
ROTTEN EGG ODORS
The smell of rotten eggs comes from sulfur added to natural gas, which doesnandrsquo;t have any odor on its own. If you have a heating system that uses natural gas, detection of this odor is considered an emergency. This smell indicates that thereandrsquo;s a natural gas leak in your home, which can be deadly. If this occurs, open the windows, leave, and call your local gas company for assistance.
If you have any heating system odors that need to be checked out, please contact Valley Heating, Cooling, Electricalfor help. We offer quality HVAC services in the South Bay Peninsula and Santa Cruz area.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the South Bay Peninsula and Santa Cruz areas of California about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).