Have you recently had a new furnace put in and are now having a weird smell? You're not alone, because a lot of other homeowners also experience this at first. Let’s review what’s causing this smell, and when you can look forward to it to disappear, 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 reek.

Protective Coating

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

When your furnace starts 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 contact a heating and cooling company if the smell persists. A burning smell that sticks around can mean the motor is too hot or there’s an electrical problem, among other concerns.

Dust

Dust builds inside your furnace when it’s not running in warm weather. That dust will burn off when you flip on your furnace in the fall, producing a burning smell. This smell should go away 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 applicable, plus it keeps your furnace clean and ensures it will run properly during the upcoming heating season.

3 Other Furnace Smells You Shouldn’t Ignore

While it’s less common for a new system to necessitate furnace repair, it happens. Here are three other scents you should watch 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 coated in plastic to avoid shocks, and this smell is a signal that heat is melting this protective coating. To avoid a fire, turn off your furnace as soon as possible and have it inspected out by an HVAC technician.
  2. Gas or rotten eggs. Gas companies add sulfur to natural gas to alert you when there’s a leak. If your furnace smells like gas or rotten eggs, shut it off as soon as possible, get out of your home and dial 911. Exposure to natural gas can make you ill, plus it’s extremely flammable and explosive.
  3. Musty. If your furnace smells musty, you might have mold and mildew flourishing in your ductwork. We advise having your ductwork examined and cleaned if necessary.

Now that you know which furnace smells are normal and which ones aren’t, you’re prepared to take care of your new furnace. If you have concerns about an odd odor, our Farris Heating & Air HVAC technicians can assist you. Call us at 918-333-0376 to schedule your appointment now. We supply quality, affordable furnace repair in Bartlesville and surrounding communities.