Fall can last only a few weeks here in Utah followed by the cold winter season, as Provo and Orem just experienced! This year so far we have already experienced 3 hard frosts in the valleys of Utah County and 5 frosty mornings in Eagle Mountain and the bench cities of Draper and Alpine. By now, you have surely turned on your Furnace. Did it smell like something was burning? Below are some tips on how to know when to call an HVAC tech for a Fall furnace tune-up. Most heating and air companies can make it over to your house within 24 hours. Burnt Metallic or Electrical Smell Have you ever used a burned up old power drill? If you have then you will remember the smell of the motor burning up. Your furnace has an electric motor to power the blower wheel that forces warm air into your home. The blower motors tend to run hot before they go out and the smell id forced through the ducts into the entire house. In the event that you smell the electrical parts inside your furnace burning turn it off and call a specialist to check it out. Do NOT operate the furnace until a qualified HVAC Specialist gives you the OK. Burnt Dust Smell When You Turn On Your Furnace The smell of burning dust particles is normal. The first time you start up your furnace in the winter it will burn all of the dust that collects inside over the summer and spring. The smell, while not pleasant is typically nothing to be concerned about, it will disappear after a few minutes. If the burnt smell does not go away after a while then it could mean that you need to replace a filter. After you replace the filter everything should be good but if you STILL smell burnt dust then call an HVAC specialist. Nasty Rotten Egg Smell The natural gas that you have coming into your home is a scentless, tasteless and invisible fuel often called the silent killer. This creates safety issues for homeowners so most gas companies put mercaptan, a liquid with a sulfuric smell in the gas to warn homeowners and techs of a leak. The smell is like rotten eggs. I you have this smell in your home do not only urn off your furnace but also check to make sure that all of your other gas appliances are shut off and open a few windows in your house to air it out. Again, call an HVAC Specialist to perform a gas leak in your home for you right away. Hope that these tips help, stay warm!
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Are you turning on your furnace for the first time this season? Or possibly for the first time ever? That 'burning goat smell' as Garfiled would say is normal!
If this is your first ever system turn on you are smelling all the oils burning off your epuiment! (The smell of a brand new furnace!) If your are kicking on an exsiting furnace you could be smelling the dust that has accumulated over the past few months! Rest assured.. the odd smell is normal! (If you are smelling any type of gas... please contact us or a gas company right away!) |
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