That Smelly Odor

Why Does My Furnace Smell Like It’s Burning?
A burning smell when you turn on your furnace could be nothing or it could be a good thing. Since furnace problems are one of the top causes of Monrovia house fires, you shouldn’t ignore a burning smell in your furnace. Here are three possible reasons your furnace might smell like it’s burning.

Smelly-Furnace

First Use in a While
When you turn on your furnace for the first time in the fall after it’s been off for several months, a burning smell is not at all unusual. The smell likely is produced by dust that has accumulated in your furnace and your vents burning off.
The smell should go away fairly quickly and is not a big deal. If you want to try to prevent it from happening, you can vacuum out your furnace, focusing on the heat exchanger and around the burners.

Dirty Filters?
If the burning smell in your furnace is constant and shows up every time you run your furnace, it could be the result of a dirty air filter. A dirty filter can allow extra dirt to buildup in your furnace, which will lead to a burning smell. A bigger issue that can be caused by a dirty filter is that your blower may have to work harder to move air, which can cause it to overheat and produce a burning smell.If the blower overheats, it can eventually shut down, which can cause your furnace to overheat and start a fire. The easiest way to fix this problem is to replace your filter, which is something you should do at least twice a year as part of regular maintenance.

Electrical Problems
If the burning smell shows up all of a sudden and has a sharp odor, it could be a sign of an electrical problem. Electrical circuits shorting out and getting overloaded can produce a burning smell that you don’t want to ignore.
An electrical problem also can cause your furnace to shut down suddenly. If you experience a sudden burning smell and your furnace shuts down, you want to contact a Monrovia HVAC company and get it looked at by a certified technician as soon as possible.

Is your furnace in smelling up your Monrovia, CA home? Call Air-Tro, Inc. today at (626) 357-3535, and get that foul odor out of your home.