Have you recently had a new furnace set up and are now noticing a weird smell? You’re not alone, because many other homeowners also have this happen at first. Let’s review what’s creating this smell, and when you can look forward to it to go away, as well as three other furnace smells you shouldn’t ignore.

Why Your New Furnace Smells

There are two factors why a new furnace might smell.

Protective Finish

Your furnace has a special finish on specific parts to keep them from rusting. This may include the heat exchanger, which safely gets rid of gases including carbon monoxide naturally produced during the heating process.

When your furnace operates for the first couple of times, the coating may give off a burning smell. This is normal and the smell should dissipate the more your furnace heats.

To be on the safe side, you’ll want to contact a heating and cooling company if the smell lingers. A burning smell that sticks around can mean the motor is too hot or there’s an electrical problem, among other issues.

Dust

Dust builds inside your furnace when it’s not running in the spring and summer. That dust will burn off when you switch on your furnace in the fall, creating a burning smell. This smell should subside within a few minutes.

One way you can reduce or prevent this smell is by having furnace maintenance done each year. This is necessary to keep your valuable manufacturer’s warranty good, plus it keeps your furnace clean and ensures it will run perfectly during the upcoming heating time of year.

3 Other Furnace Smells You Shouldn’t Disregard

While it’s less common for a new system to need furnace repair, it can happen. Here are three other smells you should keep an eye out for and what they might mean.

  1. Burning plastic or rubber. If your furnace smells like burning plastic, you might have an electrical difficulties. Electrical wiring is coated in plastic to protect against shocks, and this smell is an indication that heat is melting this protective coating. To hinder a fire, switch off your furnace right away and have it examined out by an HVAC technician.
  2. Gas or rotten eggs. Gas companies add sulfur to natural gas to alert you when there’s a problem. If your furnace smells like gas or rotten eggs, shut it off right away, leave your home and contact 911. Exposure to natural gas can make you ill, plus it’s very flammable and explosive.
  3. Musty. If your furnace smells musty, you might have mold and mildew growing in your ductwork. We advise having your ductwork examined and cleaned if required.

Now that you know which furnace smells are normal and which ones aren’t, you’re well-equipped to take care of your new heating system. If you have concerns about a weird odor, our Stanford Heating & Cooling HVAC technicians can help. Call us at 812-825-8695 to schedule your appointment today. We supply quality, affordable furnace repair in Bloomfield and surrounding areas.