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Here’s what you should know when your furnace begins to smell

As part of our heating maintenance service in Chicago, our technicians clean out the inside of dirty furnaces like this one.

Do you ever come home and notice a strange odor coming from your furnace? Or, have you noticed that your furnace isn’t working as well as it used to? If so, then it’s time to take a closer look at your furnace. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what could be causing your furnace to smell and how you can fix the problem. Keep reading to learn more!

1. If your furnace smells like burning, it could be due to dust on the elements

2. If your furnace smells musty, it could be because of a dirty filter

3. If your furnace smells like rotten eggs, there could be a gas leak

4. You should always call a professional if you’re not sure what’s causing the smell

Furnace smells like burning

Dust buildup on the elements of your furnace is something most furnaces experience during the warmer months when the furnace is not in use. During the first use of the cool season, the dust will be burnt away. Typically this is not pleasant but there is no need for alarm. If your furnace smells like burning for more than a couple hours, it’s not something to ignore. There could be a major issue that needs to be addressed right away. If something has come to rest against an element it could heat up and eventually–if not taken care of–cause the furnace to fail. Not only is this smoky smell uninviting, it can also cause damage, such as overheating the system.

Musty furnace odors

When your furnace starts to smell musty, an obvious culprit is a dirty filter. Dust and pet dander can accumulate in the air filter and prevent air from flowing freely through the system. Not only will this make your home smell unpleasant, but it can also lead to decreased energy efficiency and strain on your HVAC system. It’s important to regularly check your furnace’s filter and swap out old enough units with new ones.

It could also be humidity caught in your system causing bacteria and possibly mold to grow in your home’s ducts. If you have swapped out your air filter and continue to smell a musty odor, contact a professional to inspect your system and sanitize your ductwork.

Furnace gas leaks

A gas leak can be one of the most dangerous things that can occur in your home. If you smell sulfur “rotten egg odor”, take it seriously and take immediate action! First, turn off the furnace and all other appliances that use gas in the home. Then, leave the house immediately to an uncontaminated area until you contact a certified technician or emergency services to assess and repair the problem. Don’t try to detect or fix a suspected gas leak yourself, as undetected gas can lead to serious injury or even death. Staying safe is always important when dealing with any sort of hazardous situation.

Call in a professional

If something in your home is emitting an unpleasant smell, you should never try to diagnose and fix the problem yourself – always call a professional. Even if you suspect what’s causing the odor, it’s better to be safe than sorry. A qualified technician will be able to pinpoint the source of the smell and suggest solutions that can get rid of it for good. After all, attempting to do it on your own could result in further damage and costly repairs. Investing in the skills of a professional can lead to lasting peace of mind and having a safe, odor-free space to live in.

How King can help identify your furnace odors

As you can see, there are a few different possibilities when it comes to what might be causing your furnace to smell bad. If you’re ever unsure, it’s always best to call King Heating, Cooling & Plumbing. We can take a look and let you know for sure what the problem is. In the meantime, we hope this article has helped shed some light on the subject!