Why Does My Furnace Smell? (And What Can I Do About It?)

Does your furnace smell foul or like it’s burning? There are a few common reasons why furnaces smell, ranging from too much dust to issues with your filters. Here are some quick tips to help identify the odor. You can also call Airmasters right away to do a furnace inspection, Little Rock furnace repair, or ongoing maintenance to keep your home in safe working order. We can also let you know if a repair is the best option or if you’re better off with a replacement furnace.

Why Does My Furnace Smell Like Burning?

A burning smell or metallic odor is usually a red flag and requires extreme caution. When your furnace smells like burning, it could be a sign that your fan motor is burning out or that something inside, like the wiring, is too hot. In some cases, the burning smell could just be a buildup of dust that burns off during the first operation between the seasons. Although less urgent, you won’t always know what’s harmless dust and what’s an urgent issue.

Your best bet is to turn off your furnace immediately if you smell anything burning or suspicious. Call the technicians at Airmasters today to check your furnace immediately and restore your peace of mind.

Why Does My Furnace Smell Like Rotten Eggs?

A furnace that smells like rotten eggs is usually a problem with your gas. Natural gas is odorless; however, gas companies put an odor in it to send a warning signal that you may have a gas leak. Natural gas is also volatile and dangerous to handle. Switch off your furnace and call Airmasters right away to send over a licensed professional to get a handle on the problem and ensure your home is safe.

Why Does My Furnace Smell Like Cat Pee?

When freon gas leaks, it often smells like cat urine radiating near your units or throughout your house. You can call one of our licensed technicians or invest in a freon leak detector to monitor what’s going on in your home. Regardless of what tools you use to detect leaking freon, you still need to resolve the problem.

Unfortunately, a furnace that smells like urine could be a sign that you have a mouse problem. Pests are known for urinating and leaving their droppings near and around house vents. When you turn on your furnace, the smell can permeate your home and leave you feeling less than comfortable.

Why Does My Furnace Smell Like Burning Plastic?

If your furnace smells like burning plastic, it could stem from a dirty filter that needs a replacement or thorough cleaning in the process. Regularly switch out your filters to keep your air clean and make your household more efficient.

Frayed electrical wiring can also make your furnace smell like burning plastic, which is a more serious problem and requires immediate attention. It could mean the plastic or rubber casing on your wires has torn off and exposed the wire, which can spark a fire.

It’s also possible you have a foreign object, like a toy or discarded plastic, that’s fallen into your furnace. The results could lead to burning fumes. You should turn off your furnace, let it cool off completely, and look inside or inspect the ducts it’s connected to. If you don’t see anything, call one of our professionals to take a deeper look and locate the problem.

Why Does My Furnace Smell Bad?

Maybe your furnace doesn’t smell like cat urine or like plastic, but just has a bad odor. Is your furnace new? Much like a new oven, a furnace will also smell unpleasant the first few times you use it. These new system odors usually last for one or two days and aren’t normally a long-standing issue.

But if you can’t tell what the problem is, it’s best not to leave you and your family’s safety up to chance. Call us today to take a look and resolve the odor.

Call Arimasters Today for All Your Furnace Problems

Furnace smells aren’t unusual, but they should always be treated with extreme caution. You won’t know how serious the issue is until a professional takes a look and gets your home in working order again. Contact the team at Airmasters today for all your furnace needs, and we’ll make sure your home is safe and secure.

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