Furnace Smell: What is it?

Does your furnace smell kinda funny and you just can’t figure out what’s causing it? The odor you’re experiencing requires some sort of action, and we’re here to help you figure out what that action should be. Here is a list of possibilities:

Burning Dust Odor

The truth is, a burning dust odor is common after your heating system has been sitting unused for several months. If you experience this smell for more than a couple of hours into the newest winter season, however, you should call on the help of a professional.

Musty Odor

In addition to causing or worsening respiratory issues, the accumulation of mold in your home’s ductwork can cause a musty odor to waft through the air. To fix the problem, hire an HVAC technician to clean the ducts as soon as possible.

Smoky Odor

As many homeowners know, an effective way to control the distribution of air throughout your home is by closing registers in whichever rooms you don’t need to have conditioned. Unfortunately, if you close too many of the registers — more than 20 percent — the heat resistance and buildup can cause a smoky smell in your home. Open those registers and, problem solved.

Funky Odor

Some odors are difficult to identify and can only be described as “strange” or “funky.” This most likely means that your furnace’s filter needs to be changed immediately. During the winter months, this is actually something that you should do once per month.

Gas Odor

Okay, this is the big one! A gas leak from your furnace will smell like rotten eggs and can indicate a possible life-threatening situation. If this is what you smell, get everyone out of the house. Don’t even touch a light switch or anything else that could cause a spark. Once you’re outside, call your gas company or the fire department.

For more expert advice on how to identify a furnace smell, or if you have any other concerns about home comfort, please be sure to contact the friendly professionals at Mathews CCAC. We’ve currently serve the HVAC needs of the Coastal Bend area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 361-678-2495.

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