Have you recently had a new furnace installed and are now experiencing a weird smell? You’re not alone, because plenty of other homeowners also experience this at first. Let’s review what’s creating this smell, and when you can look forward to it to disappear, as well as three other furnace smells you shouldn’t neglect.

Why Your New Furnace Smells

There are two reasons why a new furnace might reek.

Protective Finish

Your furnace has a special coating on specific parts to keep them from rusting. This may include the heat exchanger, which safely exhausts gases including carbon monoxide naturally created during the heating process.

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

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

Dust

Dust collects inside your furnace when it’s off in the spring and summer. That dust will burn off when you switch on your furnace in the fall, producing a burning smell. This smell should go away within a few minutes.

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

3 Other Furnace Smells You Shouldn’t Disregard

While it’s less common for a new system to necessitate furnace repair, it can happen. Here are three other scents 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 problem. Electrical wiring is coated in plastic to protect against shocks, and this smell is an indication that heat is melting this preventive coating. To hinder 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 signal you when there’s a problem. If your furnace smells like gas or rotten eggs, turn it off as soon as possible, get out of 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 inspected and cleaned if needed.

Now that you know which furnace smells are normal and which ones aren’t, you’re prepared to take care of your new heater. If you have concerns about a weird odor, our Air Concepts of Middle Georgia HVAC technicians can help. Contact us at 478-200-5689 to schedule your appointment now. We supply quality, affordable furnace repair in Milledgeville and Middle Georgia and surrounding areas.