In a “perfect” home, there are zero odors emanating from your furnace.  All you feel is the comfort and calm that comes along with it.  But when things suddenly aren’t so perfect and you detect a strange odor you’re pretty sure stems from your furnace, you’ll want to know the probable cause, what it means, and what to do about it.

Heated Dust Odor

This odor is one pretty much confined to the start of the heating season.  After sitting idle throughout the summer, dust collects inside your furnace.  Later, when it’s first turned on for the heating season, it could take two hours or so for the dust to burn off.  If the odor persists, however, contact your home heating professionals at Absolute Air.

It Just Stinks

If you pick up an unpleasant odor that you can’t quite put your finger on, but don’t like it whatever the cause might be, it’s worth checking the furnace filter to see if it’s caked with dust or dirt.  If so, clean or replace it as appropriate.

Must in the Air

Your air ducts represent a hospitable environment to mold and mold spores.  Should you detect a musty odor, regardless of the sources, it’s one you want to act on right away as it could have a negative impact on your health.

Smoke, But No Fire

Smelling smoke can be a scary experience.  The first you want to do is make sure nothing’s on fire.  Once that’s been ascertained, check your heating registers.  If more than 20% of them are closed, that’s probably what explains the smoky odor, caused by heat resistance and build-up in your furnace.

Rotten Egg Odor

Have you already figured out what causes this odor?  That’s right, a natural gas leak, and it’s one that requires prompt and decisive action for your own protection.  Leave your house immediately and call your gas company or fire department from a safe distance.  If possible, leave at least one door or window open before exiting so the gas can vent itself.

What do these and other furnace-related odors have in common?  Absolute Air has experienced, diagnosed, and taken the proper corrective action for all of them.  So, if your furnace is raising a stink, contact Absolute Air today, your local home heating professionals.