Have you noticed a smell from heater usage? Sometimes, heater smells are normal. Other times, they can serve as symptoms of deeper problems within your HVAC system. These might even develop into problems that cause extensive damage to your home.

They may put you and your loved ones at risk.

So, you need to know what smells are considered normal. Below, we’ll get into a few common heater smells and what they might say about your heating system. If you have any doubts, you should call a professional technician.

Keep reading to learn more!

Your Heater Gives Off a Burning Smell

If your heat smells like burning plastic, you need to pay attention to it.

Often, this comes about once you turn your heater on for the first time in a while. In the meantime, dust gathers on the heating apparatus and starts to burn. This causes a light burning smell to permeate your home.

This isn’t a cause for concern. It’s just a sign that your heater is kicking back into gear after a long while. The smell should dissipate soon after you start your heater.

If it persists, though, you might want to investigate it further. You might need to have your air filters cleaned or placed.

You should have your filters cleaned in a regular manner. That way, you can keep these smells at bay and help your system operate better.

Heater smells can also come from an electrical problem. This situation is much more serious. If you suspect that you might have electrical issues, turn off your unit as soon as possible. Call an HVAC professional to come to look at your furnace.

When It Smells Like Soot

If the burning stench smells more like soot, you might have a serious problem. Soot results from incomplete combustion.

It can congregate on your heat exchanger. This insulates the exchanger and lowers its efficiency, driving up your bills. Soot also has combustible properties.

That means it can catch fire.

So, you should turn off your heater immediately and call a technician if you smell soot. Don’t turn it back on again until the technician has looked at it and deemed it safe.

When It Smells Like Rotten Eggs

If you’re smelling rotten eggs, you might have a gas leak.

Natural gas is often odorless, so gas companies add chemicals to make it smell. Many people liken this smell to rotten eggs.

If you smell this, you should get everyone out of your home as fast as you can. Inhaling this gas for too long can have adverse health effects.

Then, call your gas company. They will send someone out to fix the problem. Do not re-enter your home until you know it’s safe.

Ready to Get Rid of Heater Smells?

If your heater smells don’t go away, you’re going to need someone to come out and make sure everything works in the correct manner.

You need to do this as quickly as you can. If you don’t, your heater might become further damaged.

If you’re in need of heater repair, we can help. Our trained technicians have been serving homeowners in Brookeland, Kirbyville, Jasper, Woodville, and Newton, Texas for years and have become a trusted mainstay in these communities.

Want to learn more about what we can do for you? Contact us today to learn more!