Why Is There a Burning Smell When I Turn on the Heat?

If you’ve turned on your heat in your Stratford, CT, home for the first time this season and noticed a burning smell, you may wonder what’s going on. In this blog post, we’ll discuss possible causes of a burning smell when turning on your heat and what you can do to fix the problem.

What Could Be Causing the Burning Smell?

There are a few different things that could be causing a burning smell when you turn on your heat. One possibility is that there is dust or dirt built up on the heating elements. This debris can burn when the heat turns on, causing an unpleasant smell. Another possibility is that the furnace’s oil burner may need to be cleaned. If the burner isn’t burning cleanly, it can produce a burning smell.

How Can I Fix the Problem?

If you think the burning smell comes from dust and dirt on the heating elements, you can try cleaning them yourself. Be sure to turn off the power to the furnace before beginning any work. Once the power is off, you can use a vacuum with a brush attachment to clean the heating elements. If you’re uncomfortable doing this yourself, you can call a professional HVAC technician to do it. 

If you think the burning smell is coming from the oil burner, it’s best to call a professional for help. Cleaning an oil burner is a complicated process that should only be done by someone with experience.

When Should I Call a Professional for a Burning Smell?

If you need help determining what’s causing the burning smell or how to fix the problem, it’s always best to call a professional. You may need your furnace or heat pump repaired. HVAC technicians have the knowledge and experience to diagnose and fix furnace problems quickly and safely.

If you’ve noticed a burning smell when you turn on your heat, don’t ignore it. There could be a problem with your heating system that needs to be fixed. Ignoring it may result in having to replace your furnace or heat pump — which is costly — or worse, causing untoward damage to your property or danger to your loved ones. 

For help diagnosing and fixing the problem, get in touch with Tyler — a trusted HVAC company in Stratford, CT. Our experienced HVAC technicians will quickly identify the cause of the problem and get your furnace running safely and efficiently. Contact us at (203) 660-2031 today!