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As winter drags on here in Central Massachusetts, you’re going to be relying heavily on your furnace to keep you and your home warm, safe and comfortable.
If you maintain your furnace properly with annual maintenance tune-ups by Pioneer Oil and Propane’s skilled service technicians, it will usually do its job without problems. But sometimes, your furnace will let you know there’s a problem, possibly in the form of strange odors.
The peculiar smells emanating from your furnace or vents might signal a number of issues, some more serious than others. Here are several of the most frequent furnace odors, as well as their meanings and what to do about them.
In the early months of the heating season, a musty, smoky odor from your furnace vents can be normal. The dust and debris that has accumulated since last winter may be burned away by your furnace. If the problem persists, replace your heating system’s air filter, which should be replaced at the start of the season and checked once a month afterwards. Schedule ductwork cleaning if that has not been done in the last three to five years. If these measures don’t work, contact us to request a service call.
Electrical odors (think of a burning wire smell) are typically a sign of overheating. If your heating equipment shuts down inexplicably, it’s possible that it’s self-protecting. A similar odor is a metallic smell, which could indicate that rubber or metal parts are burning due to wear and tear. Either way, shut your heating system down and contact us for service right away.
The presence of these smells might indicate an obstruction in your chimney exhaust system, which is either partial or total. If this is the case, carbon monoxide may be building up in your home. Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and potentially deadly. Immediately turn off the furnace and contact us. Now is a good time to inspect your carbon monoxide detectors and replace them if necessary. Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed in every room of your home, including the basement, as well as outside all sleeping areas.
In most situations, a rotten-egg smell in your home indicates that you have a gas leak. If this is the case, follow these propane safety steps right away:
You can rely on Pioneer Oil and Propane for high-quality heating system maintenance and repairs! Get in touch with us when your furnace needs service.
