The Furnace Makes a Burning Smell (Repair)

There are some minor issues which do not risk safety of the homeowners. Surely, there will be a day when the appliance breaks down, when the owners ignore fixing the issue. Still, that is not so dangerous. Unluckily, the furnace is absolutely not among those units. When you notice a bad smell, you must react fast. Stop using a broken appliance. The smell of burning plastic could be a sign of an overheated household appliance, a kitchen accident, or a problem with the HVAC system. Heaters and furnaces may smell of burnt plastic when their parts are broken or worn out. Parts that may need to be replaced include the capacitor, plastic-coated wires or the fan belt. That sulfuric smell is added to gas to alert you. Shut off the furnace immediately and call for service. A professional can diagnose the problem, which may be a cracked part or a failing pilot light or ignitor. Electrical smells coming from your furnace often indicate certain components on the inside are getting too hot. If electrical smells come with a furnace that randomly shuts itself off, it’s likely a protective mechanism that won’t allow the furnace to run anymore and you’ll need to call for service immediately to use the furnace. Mechanical smells in your furnace may also indicate that certain parts on the inside that are literally made of rubber or metal are actually burning due to old age and general wear and tear. These parts will need to be replaced, but this is generally a minor repair that won’t cost you too much money. Bear in mind that all furnace models differ and there are a number of reasons why there is a weird smell in the house, so the above types of smell may not be the answer to a breakdown. Call a licensed maintenance worker if you feel uncomfortable with any aspect of HVAC system work.