When running your heating system, you don’t want to encounter any surprises. However, the fact of the matter is that you are likely going to encounter problems with your heater at some point. Today we are going to discuss a common issue that homeowners encounter with their furnaces: burning odors.
While this is certainly not the rarest furnace issue, it may still be a very serious problem. The last thing you should do is ignore this sign of trouble, especially considering the fact that it could indicate a potentially dangerous problem with your system. If you smell a burning odor coming from your furnace in Westport, CT, it could be the result of a few different issues.
Air Filters and Dust
Let’s start off with the least serious causes of the problem. If you use a furnace, it is not enough to have your filter changed once a year during your annual furnace maintenance service. You are going to have to change this filter regularly in order to keep your system functioning properly. If you don’t, the system can overheat and you may smell a burning odor. If you smell burning when you first start the system up for the year, but it goes away quickly, it could just be dust burning off.
Obstructions
This issue is a bit more serious. Furnaces are forced air heaters, which means that they distribute heated air throughout the house with air ducts. Those ducts have vents that allow for the dispersal of heat. If anything should get into these ducts, such as a child’s toy or even a rodent nest, you may smell burning. Only a professional can access your ductwork to remove the obstruction.
Electrical Problems
This is a serious concern, and an example of why you should never just hope for the best. If your furnace is having electrical problems, the danger of an electrical fire is very real. For instance, your wiring may be getting so hot that it is melting its insulation. Dial our number to get to the bottom of the problem quickly.
Schedule any and all furnace services with the technicians here at T&H Mechanical Systems.