If you notice odors coming from your furnace, don't ignore them. This can happen for a number of reasons, and most of them indicate that something is seriously wrong. Here are two common furnace odors, their meaning, and how to respond to them:
Gas (Rotten Eggs) Odor
The gas that fuels your furnace is normally odorless. For safety reasons, fuel suppliers include a chemical that gives it the distinctive smell of rotten eggs. This odor means you have a gas leak. This is extremely serious because if the gas builds up, it can explode if it comes into contact with a heat source. Get everyone out of the house, and when safely away, call 911 and explain your situation. Contact your gas company as well.Electrical Burning Odor
If you smell a sharp acrid burning odor (similar to burning wires), then an electrical component of your furnace is overheating. For example, if the electrical windings of a blower motor get too hot, they will char and burn surrounding insulation and other materials, which emit the odor that you smell.Regardless of how cold it is outside, turn off your heating system. If you are familiar with your circuit breaker panel, cut off the power to your furnace by tripping the appropriate switch. Contact your furnace repair person, and keep an eye on the furnace for several hours to ensure there aren't any ongoing fires.
If you have any questions or concerns about these smells, don't hesitate to contact a furnace service in Birmingham AL.
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