Making sure your furnace is working efficiently through the winter is vital for you and the other members of your household. If it’s malfunctioning, it may give off certain smells that can indicate the specific problem. Here are some smells that mean your furnace in Annapolis, MD, is failing:
Dusty Smell
When dirt, dust and debris have collected inside your furnace, it can give off a dusty or musty smell when you fire it up. This isn’t a pressing issue as the smell usually goes away after a few uses. If the smell lingers, though, it could be due to a dirty air filter that needs replacing.
Burning Smell
A burning smell coming from your furnace could signal a variety of things. If you have plastic items near your system, the pilot light could be burning or melting these items, which will cause the smell of burning plastic to float around your house. If your furnace uses oil, it’s possible that there’s oil spillage or a leak, causing the smell of burning oil to circulate.
Rotten Eggs Smell
The smell of rotten eggs can be an indicator that there is a gas leak. This can be extremely dangerous. If you smell rotten eggs in your home, immediately shut off your furnace and contact us for immediate heater service.
Locker Room Smell
When bacteria builds up on the heating coils of your furnace, it can produce a smell of dirty socks and other dirty clothes that you would typically find in a locker room. If your system is giving off this smell, it could mean that your heating coils are dirty.
There are many pungent odors that can arise from a furnace in need of inspection. Contact us at Coastal Heating & Air Conditioning Co., Inc. for heating repairs, maintenance or general HVAC services.
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