Have you recently had a new furnace put in and are now experiencing a strange smell? You’re not alone, because many other homeowners also have this happen at first. Let’s review what’s leading to 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 reasons why a new furnace might stink.

Protective Finishing

Your furnace has a special finish on specific parts to keep them from rusting. This may include the heat exchanger, which safely removes gases such as carbon monoxide naturally made during the heating process.

When your furnace operates for the first couple of times, the coating may emit a burning smell. This is typical and the smell should disperse the more your furnace runs.

To be on the safe side, you’ll want to call a heating and cooling company if the smell lingers. A burning smell that remains can mean the motor has overheated or there’s an electrical problem, among other concerns.

Dust

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

One way you can decrease or prevent this smell is by having furnace maintenance done every year. This is required 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 Ignore

While it’s less common for a new system to require furnace repair, it can happen. Here are three other scents you should look out for and what they might mean.

  1. Burning plastic or rubber. If your furnace smells like burning plastic, you might have an electrical problem. Electrical wiring is protected in plastic to avoid shocks, and this smell is a sign that heat is melting this preventive coating. To prevent a fire, turn off your furnace immediately and have it inspected out by an HVAC technician.
  2. Gas or rotten eggs. Gas companies include sulfur in natural gas to warn you when there’s a leakage. If your furnace smells like gas or rotten eggs, turn it off as soon as possible, evacuate your home and contact 911. Exposure to natural gas can make you sick, plus it’s highly flammable and explosive.
  3. Musty. If your furnace smells musty, you might have mold and mildew growing in your ductwork. We recommend having your ductwork checked and cleaned if needed.

Now that you are aware which furnace smells are normal and which ones aren’t, you’re ready to take care of your new heater. If you have concerns about an odd odor, our Luikart Heating & Cooling HVAC technicians can assist you. Contact us at 740-344-5497 to schedule your appointment today. We offer quality, affordable furnace repair in Newark and surrounding neighborhoods.