After surviving another long, hot summer, dropping temperatures come as a welcomed change. But when the temperatures dip too low, turning on your furnace for the first time might not be as pleasant as you think. It’s not uncommon to have an odd furnace smell in the air when using your HVAC for the first time of the season. And while it’s usually nothing to be concerned about, there are times when you might need the assistance of an HVAC technician, like those at Hammock’s AC.
Continue reading to learn a few reasons why your HVAC unit is smelling and how to fix it.
Burning Odor
Before we get into this, it’s important that you know that everyone may experience a different furnace smell and each one will affect your health differently. With that out of the way, let’s start with the burning smell. A burning smell is one of the most common scents that an HVAC unit can produce. In many cases, this burning smell is caused by a number of things ranging from a malfunctioning component, to faulty wiring or to a motor that’s overheating.
If your unit is emitting a musty odor, it could simply be a buildup of dust that’s accumulated over the summer season. Regardless, if this smell continues to linger, turn the unit off and contact an HVAC professional immediately.
Sewage Smell
Having a sewage type of smell is a bit uncommon, but not unheard of. If you smell sewage coming from your HVAC unit, then you’ll have to replace the P-traps. A P-trap is a certain type of pipe that helps condensed water drain out of your AC unit. If the P-trap is dry, it can cause this smell, but you can easily rectify this problem by turning all of the sinks on. This will help fill up the P-trap to create a barrier for the smell. In other cases, the smell may be the result of a backed up sewer line. If this is the case with you, contact an HVAC professional right away.
Pungent Odor
As morbid as this sounds, it’s not uncommon for a small animal to become trapped in your unit and die. When it does die, the carcass gives off an odor that you can’t mistake or ignore. The furnace smell is often described as a mixture of chemicals, specifically methane and sulfur.
Unless you have the experience and skill to take apart the unit so you can remove the corpse, it’s in your best interest to call an HVAC professional.
Hammock’s Can Fix Your Odd Furnace Smell
If you are having an issue with your HVAC unit, or have an unpleasant smell coming from your furnace we’re here to help. Hammock’s HVAC has your back. We are dedicated to our customers by providing a friendly experience for them. Our knowledgeable technicians will help you through every step of the way.
Contact us by calling our number at 678-855-7761 to schedule an appointment today!
