Have you recently had a new furnace set up and are now having a weird smell? You’re not alone, because plenty of other homeowners also experience this at first. Let’s review what’s leading to 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 stink.

Protective Coating

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

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

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

Dust

Dust collects inside your furnace when it’s idle in warm weather. That dust will burn off when you flip on your furnace in the fall, creating a burning smell. This smell should subside within a few minutes.

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

3 Other Furnace Smells You Shouldn’t Dismiss

While it’s less common for a new system to require furnace repair, it can happen. 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 covered in plastic to protect against shocks, and this smell is a signal that heat is melting this precautionary coating. To avoid a fire, switch off your furnace right away and have it examined out by an HVAC technician.
  2. Gas or rotten eggs. Gas companies include sulfur in natural gas to warn you when there’s a leak. If your furnace smells like gas or rotten eggs, shut it off immediately, leave your home and contact 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 developing 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 furnace. If you have concerns about a strange odor, our Bell Mechanical Services HVAC technicians can help. Contact us at 888-863-0560 to schedule your appointment right now. We supply quality, affordable furnace repair in McKinney and Frisco and surrounding areas.