Hello World! Welcome Friends! Have you ever noticed a strange burning smell coming from your heater? If so, it is important to identify what might be causing this problem before it leads to further damage. This article will examine why your heater may be emitting a burning smell and how you can troubleshoot them.
If you’re in Avondale looking for professional HVAC solutions, reach out to Autumn Air for a sleep stress-free on a cold night.
Is It Normal if Your Heater May Smell Like It Is Burning?
Well, a burning smell from a heater is certainly not normal. While the main purpose of a heater is to warm up the room, burning smells indicate that your heater is not running properly and needs immediate servicing. In such situations, the first thing you should do is call a professional HVAC service to identify the source of the burning smell.
7 Reasons Why Your Heater May Smell Like It Is Burning
A burning smell is, more often than not, an alarming issue when it comes to electrical components. Here’s how you should go about it.
1. Burning Plastic or Rubber
A heater working in good condition should never emit a plastic or rubber-burning smell. This can happen when some object or foreign element falls into the heating unit. As a result, it will send fumes throughout the room.
First, shut off the heating system and conduct a visual inspection. Look for any toys that have gotten stuck. If you can’t figure out what’s causing the smell after a visual inspection, you should get on the job instead; an HVAC technician will conduct a deeper inspection to figure out the source of the problem and how to resolve it.
2. Dusty Furnace or Air Vents
The furnace or heating system is actively used during the winter season. They are mostly unused during the rest of the year, accumulating dust. The burners, the air vents and the heat exchangers are the common areas that accumulate the maximum dust and dirt.
During winter, you are most likely to smell the burning dust when you turn on the heater for the first time. The burning smell constantly comes out of the vents, and within no time, it will circulate throughout the house.
However, this is not a severe issue as the smell will only last a while. The smell will fade away after a while. You can let the unit run for half an hour and check whether the smell fades away. If the smell persists for more than that, simply switch the unit off and call a professional for further inspection.
3. Obstructed Air Filter
Another reason why your heater might smell like it’s burning is due to a clogged or obstructed air filter. Overheating might result from obstructed air filters. You need to check the air filters to find out any blockage. Cleaning the air filter is more of a DIY project, and any homeowner can do it. Just check the air filters frequently and clean them with a brush so that dirt or dust does not accumulate.
In the worst case, you might also need to change the air filter, which is a challenging job. If you see that the air filter has accumulated extreme dust and dirt, call a professional and get it replaced.
4. Build-Up of Mold and Bacteria
When the heating units are not used for several months, they might accumulate mold or bacteria. Furthermore, it can result in a pungent smell inside the house. If you turn on the heater and experience a pungent dirty-sock-like odor, it’s most likely due to bacteria or mild accumulation inside the unit.
Mold or bacteria cleaning is something that non-professionals should not handle as it can cause severe health damage. This kind of mold and bacteria build-up should never be kept untreated. Thus, hiring a professional agency to thoroughly clean the unit is the most effective solution.
5. Burning of Electrical Wiring
If you experience any electric burning wire smell, it’s a serious concern. Modern heaters are built to power off automatically when they get overheated. If your heater fails to turn off automatically when overheated, it means the heating system is damaged and needs immediate replacement.
Do not waste a single minute when you experience a burning electrical wiring smell. Turn off the unit immediately and call a professional.
6. Overheating of the Fan Motor
Fan motor overheating can also result in a burning smell. This kind of issue often results in a gunpowder-like smell. You might also experience this gunpowder-like smell from overheating of circuit boards. Internal components of a heating system are very complicated, and they should only be handled by professionals.
7. Damaged Heater
Last, a burning smell can also happen if your furnace or heating system is damaged. Damage can happen for several reasons, one of the major reasons being lack of maintenance.
Needless to say, there is no way a non-professional can handle a damaged heater or furnace. So the only option is to call a professional and examine the entire unit. If necessary, the technician might suggest you replace the heating unit and install a new one.
Things to Avoid When Your Heater Gives a Burning Smell
If your heater emits a burning smell, it is very important to avoid a few things to ensure your as well as your equipment’s safety.
- Do not ignore the smell, and turn off the heater immediately.
- It is best to avoid trying to fix the heater yourself as it is not possible to fix a heater without technical expertise.
- Never try to clean the heater without following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Do not use any other electrical appliances near the heater.
- Do not keep flammable materials close to the heater.
Endnote
As you can see, there are not one but several reasons that might cause the heater to smell like it is burning. While some situations can be handled by homeowners, some need professional assistance. Also, you need to ensure that the heating unit is maintained occasionally to avoid urgencies, especially during cold winter days. Call an HVAC professional and check your heating system before the winter hits.
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