Turning on your heater should provide great comfort but not bad smells. If you start noticing that trying to heat up your home creates some unpleasant scents throughout the house, it may mean that you need some expert help. Why? Because a smelly heater is one that needs heating repair in Spokane, WA.
If you haven’t encountered this problem with your heater before, then you may not know that it is a problem or how to diagnose what type of problem it is. We’d love to give you some added information about this problem so you know when to reach out to us for assistance.
What’s That Smell?
Not sure if the scent that is starting to spread around the house is your heater or a hidden bag of laundry? Here’s what you need to know.
- The smell of old socks: Does running your heater produce the smell of old, dirty socks? You know that smell—it’s musty! Well, unless you find a bag of laundry right by a vent, then the cause of the smell may be dirty build-up in your heater. This can happen to heat pumps and furnaces alike. Make sure to get your heater maintained to try to avoid this issue. If that doesn’t work, a technician may need to take a harder look at things.
- The smell of burning electrical parts: This is a more serious one. That acrid, ozone scent created by overheating electrical parts is something that should prompt you to turn off your heater and call in a professional ASAP. You may have old, frayed wires creating electrical arcs or old electrical connections that are overheating. Make sure to have a technician check out the electrical components for your heater and fix anything that is in disrepair to avoid the risk of a short or electrical fire.
- The smell of sulfur or rotten eggs: Do you have a gas-powered furnace? Then this one is for you. An old furnace may develop cracks in the heat exchanger which will allow combustion gas to escape the system. This is a big problem because it reduces your comfort and puts everyone in your home at risk of a health issue. If you smell gas in your home, that sulfuric, rotten egg scent, make sure to turn off your furnace immediately, crack the windows to vent any lingering gas outside, get to a safe place, and call for emergency services before you schedule repairs. Your safety comes first, and, once that is ensured, we will help make sure that your furnace is repaired so you can operate it without risk again.
Smelling something “off” when you run your heater is just one of the warning signs of trouble that this system might produce. Make sure to look out for any additional signs of an issue such as concerning sounds, lack of heat, or even high energy bills.
Whatever indicators you notice, you can always reach out to our team for expert repairs that get your system working right again.
Schedule your heating repair appointment today. ACI Northwest is here to help with your home comfort needs or concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact us for helpful advice.