HVAC odors can be alarming, and while they sometimes signal the presence of a serious underlying problem, that's not always the case. Here is an overview of the five most common HVAC-related odors, their typical causes, and the recommended courses of action:
- Oil odors: Manually inspect your equipment for signs of oil leaks. If you can't find one, you may have a problem with your burners. Persistent oil odors should be investigated by a trusted HVAC technician.
- Gas odors: If you think your home might have a gas leak, open your windows and exit immediately. However, gas leaks are actually fairly rare; if you can pinpoint the source of the gas by determining where the smell is strongest, make sure you tell your gas company.
- Burning odors: These are usually caused by loose parts or debris coming in contact with the hotter inner regions of an air conditioner or furnace. If you detect this type of odor, disable the power supply to the equipment at the circuit breaker and contact a technician.
- Electrical odors: Mechanical problems can cause your HVAC's working parts to overheat, which can in turn cause electrical odors. Loose electrical connections may also be to blame, as might severely clogged air filters. Check your filters to see if they're badly blocked; if not, stop running the equipment and request a service call.
- Musty odors: Inspect your plumbing or HVAC condensate drains to see if any leaks could be dripping water, and make sure your water heater isn't leaking. Moisture might be accessing your home from a leaky foundation or leaks in the walls or roof.
Regularly occurring or unusually strong HVAC odors should be investigated by an experienced technician. If HVAC odors have you worried about the health of your heating and cooling equipment, please contact the skilled professionals at Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning. We've been providing homeowners in the Fort Wayne area with convenient, courteous service at highly competitive prices since 1963.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC Odors and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.