There are a few different areas that may signal some kind of air quality or related concern within a home, and a good example is the presence of odors in certain places. One common such area in the home: The furnace, which could be telling you a few different things if it begins to emit strange smells.
The signs that are being given to you by furnace odors could signal the need for a few different services or repairs. You may need mold remediation in some cases, for instance, or you could just require a detailed air duct cleaning that will remove certain odor-causing contaminants from within your ducts. Here are some of the odors you may smell from the furnace, plus what they’re signaling and what should be done about them, either on your own or with the assistance of air quality professionals.
Burning Dust
On the lower end of the concern spectrum for smells coming from your furnace is the presence of a burning dust smell. While this smell may indicate slightly higher dust levels in your home than you’d prefer, and could lead you to take basic action here, this smell will also sometimes simply appear near the start of a given heating season, where there is a lot of dust built up within the furnace. Essentially, the dust isn’t combusting as it should, which leads to a dull burning smell rather than a rich and full cleansing odour from your home heating system.
This smell should usually go away in a few days or weeks. If it doesn’t, contact air quality professionals for help.
Musty, Mildew Smell
This smell is a bit more concerning, mainly because it’s a common indicator of mold and mildew growth within your duct system. While the mold itself likely won’t be present in these areas, it’s an important reminder for you to get things checked out by professionals, since the fact that you’re smelling musty odors could mean that there are hidden leaks or moisture penetration points elsewhere in your home.
Moisture can make its way into your duct system over time, particularly if nothing’s done to address any underlying moisture problems within your home. Getting these smells looked at by professionals is likely the only way of getting them resolved, as it will require an air quality assessment followed by mold remediation or leak repair efforts where necessary.
Rotten Egg Smell
Smells of sulfur or rotten eggs are also concerning, as they may signal a gas leak within your furnace. You’ll know this smell is coming from the furnace because it will typically only be present when the heating system is running, and it may also be more noticeable when you’re in a specific part of the home.
Gas leaks are serious business; please contact professionals to inspect your furnace right away if you think that there might be a gas leak.
Actual Gas Smell
In still other cases, you may actually smell gas itself — and this is just as concerning as the rotten egg smell, if not more so. You will typically smell this gas at all times, whether the furnace is running or not. Gas leaks are extremely dangerous and represent an urgent life-safety problem; professional help is needed immediately if you suspect a gas leak within your home’s furnace.
Please contact professionals to inspect your furnace if you notice any of these odors.
