Keeping your residence warm during the winter is crucial to your comfort and survival. Typically, this is not a problem because you only need to switch on the heater, and your residence will be warm and inviting in no time. Occasionally, however, turning on the furnace may be accompanied by a scent of burning. When your heater smells like burning, contacting the fire department is not always necessary because there are things you can do. In this guide, you can learn the possible causes and solutions whenever you encounter burning smells from the heater when it is on.
Simple fixes will do when your heater smells like it is burning. However, if the issue is still not resolved within a short time, it is an indication that there is a concerning problem with your equipment. With that, you need to turn off the heater and inspect the system to ascertain the precise cause of the complication. If you have confirmed that an easy solution will not work, it is advisable to seek the aid of a professional for assistance in diagnosing and solving the problem.
If things do not go as planned, you may need to install a new heater as the last and safest option. After all, the heating system is made out of a complex collection of components that work hand-in-hand to ensure the safety and comfort of your family. In fact, after installing a new heater, there is a good chance that you will initially detect that the heater smells like burning, but this should quickly dissipate as it is entirely normal. This gives more importance to knowing more about your heater to save yourself from headaches and repair costs once you encounter a problem like a burning smell.
While having an odor is a normal occurrence for a heater, it can still be scary, primarily if it emits a strong burning smell. To help put your mind at ease, here are the nine potential causes and solutions for heater smells like burning.
1. Overexcited Blower Engine:
Without adequate airflow, the furnace blower motor may overheat, causing your heater to smell like burning. This issue is typically caused by a filthy filter or obstructed ventilation within the residence. When the motor overheats, the furnace may shut down to allow internal components like the heat exchanger to cool.
Solution
In this problem, you can inspect and change the furnace air filter. Once the filthy filter is changed, you can also walk around your home to ensure all vents are open to solve the issue that your heater smells like burning. You can ensure this will not happen again by regularly checking the filter and your ventilation before turning the heater on.
2. Burning Rubber or Plastic:
Even a properly functioning heater can have a burning smell, most commonly if there’s dust on it and it’s the one burning. It is harmless because the odor will dissipate in about an hour. What you should be concerned about is when your heater smells like burning plastic or rubber. If your switched-on heater emits a smoldering plastic odor, it is likely that an item has entered your heating component and is dispersing vapors throughout your home.
Solution
Power down your HVAC system and check if a piece of your kid’s plaything has gotten trapped close by. Then, remove the vent cautiously and remove the residue. Assuming a visual examination fails to pinpoint the issue and your heater continues to emit burning smells from your heater, have an HVAC professional conduct a more comprehensive inspection.
3. Old or Clogged Air Filter:
An old air filter that has worked effectively on its purpose will have unsurprisingly accumulated a dense residue layer. This blocks the necessary air circulation into your system. Due to the restricted ventilation, the equipment must work much harder, which may result in a burning odor emanating from the ignition chamber or compressor. If a clogged air filter forces the compressor to work harder than average, it can cause the motor to overheat, causing your heater to smell like burning.
On the other hand, clogged filters can cause more issues. Aside from being unable to block dust and grime from entering the furnace, it can even accumulate more. This can lead to a similar odor of heater smell like burning like at the beginning of the chilly season when the furnace is first turned on after a lengthy period of disuse. In this instance, the odor will persist until the problem is resolved.
Solution
Your equipment’s air filter is an essential component. It prevents grime, pollen, and debris from entering the system and impairing its operation. Thus, a good help that you can do is to clean or replace the filter before switching on the heater for the very first time. This can reduce the number of particles in the system and help eliminate that burning smell from the heater.
Remember, with a new filter, the system becomes more effective at blocking and removing airborne particles, so the odor should clear quickly.
4. Dust:
Dust is expected to accumulate on equipment that is inactive for an extended time, and a heater is no exception. So, using it after a long summer break without cleaning it thoroughly, you can typically observe the heater smells like burning. The cause of the smoldering odor is the accumulated grime burning off.
Solution
The odor should vanish within approximately 30 minutes. If it persists, there may be a different cause that needs professional inspection. Thus, don’t hesitate to contact your HVAC technician to ensure there is nothing to worry about.
5. Gas Leak:
Natural gas has a similar odor to rotten eggs. It is flammable and combustible, so smelling it in your home may indicate that it is unsafe.
If your heater operates on natural gas, and you detect natural gas or an odor similar to rotting eggs, there may be a gas leak. Upon detection, you must quickly take action because it can lead to carbon monoxide contamination, which is more dangerous.
Other indications that you need to observe are:
Dead flora near the heater.
A frequently extinguished pilot light.
Soot stains on the walls or ceiling.
Solution
If you detect a solid smoldering odor near your heating unit, you should promptly turn off the gas supply and contact an HVAC technician to address any potential leaks without delay.
The safest thing to do is quickly evacuate and contact emergency services or your local gas company for help. A gas discharge is always a safety hazard and must be handled properly by a trained professional.
6. Musty Smell:
A switched-on heater smells like burning oil, or plastic is nothing to be concerned about. However, something is wrong if the smell turns musty and unpleasant over time. Typically, grime and dust particles that were trapped on the air tube and came in contact with moisture are the issues because there may be mold growth.
Solution
In this scenario, you should have your tubes cleaned to eliminate mold, mildew, grime, and moisture that have become trapped. While you can tidy your air vents and air tubes, you can also hire an HVAC company to handle the issue.
7. Damaged Electrical Wires:
Electrical issues are one of the most urgent causes of a heater smelling like burning intensely. Over time, heaters experience typical wear and tear. Also, wires can become frayed or misaligned. So, if you notice a persistent smoldering electrical odor for several days, there is a high chance that there are damaged electrical wires.
Solution
These electrical problems are severe because they cause conflagration. In such a peculiar scenario, the best solution is to contact a heating professional. They will be able to examine your appliance and devise a solution properly.
8. Smoke or Oil:
If you have an oil furnace and frequently think, “This heater smells like burning oil or smoke,” you have to check some things. In most cases, the problem is that the oil filter was not changed, and a lot of nasty buildup is already there. With this, you should not be surprised by the burning smell of oil or even smoke coming from the heater.
Solution
After replacing the oil filter:
Continue to operate the heater normally.
If you scent smoldering oil or smoke, do not continue to use your heater because it could be a fire hazard.
If the odor persists, turn off your HVAC system and have a technician inspect the problem.
9. Internal Components with Defects:
When the odor of burning reoccurs every time you turn on the heater, it indicates a severe problem with it. If you don’t have extensive knowledge, you may just be searching in vain to find the cause. With an unsolvable burning smell from the heater, it is practical to consider that the system may contain a compromised or malfunctioning component.
Solution
This situation calls for a professional and thorough inspection because the problem can be caused by many components, from the fuel lines to the ignition chamber and wiring. Trust the expert because an in-depth analysis will help you clearly understand the source of the smoldering odor, and the technician will assist you in resolving the issue.
Causes of Heater Smells Like Burning
EFFECT
CAUSE
Overheated Blower Motor
This issue is typically caused by a filthy filter or obstructed ventilation within the residence.
Clogged Air Filter
Reduced ventilation due to a buildup of debris on the air filter of the radiator.
Burning Rubber or Plastic
Object present in the heater’s heating unit emitting fumes throughout the residence.
Dust
Accumulation of dust caused by extended inactivity
Musty smell
Dust and dirt particles accumulated along with moisture in the air ducts of the heater, causing a musty odor. Smell and molds.
Damaged Electrical Wires
Wear and tear of the heater over a long period of use.
FAQS
What can you do if you observe grime accumulation on the furnace?
Fortunately, dust accumulation on your furnace is typically not a cause for concern, as the odor should dissipate after the dust burns off. Still, you can examine your unit to make sure that there is no grime accumulation.
How can you prevent your heater from smelling like burning?
The best way to avoid unpleasant heater odors is to set up routine maintenance with a professional HVAC technician. Furnace maintenance should be performed at least once a year and occasionally twice for specific types of heating system inspection.
What causes a heater to smell like burning?
There are a few possible suspects that might be the cause of a suspicious odor when you turn on your heater. While you should always contact an expert HVAC technician for significant system problems, you can determine the source of the burning scent on your own in certain situations by checking.
When will the burning smell disappear?
The burning smell from the heater usually goes away within some hours once the dust has incinerated off the heating mechanism. However, depending on the amount of dust, it can linger for some time: days at most. Assuming the “heater smell” gets too bad, open the windows and let the odor dissipate. You can try to solve the issue, but you can always call for professional help.
Conclusion
A heater is a complex assembly of components that work hand-in-hand to keep your family safe and comfortable from cold. However, issues like the unpleasant burning smell from your heater can still happen sometimes. You simply need to be prepared for that.
Ultimately, part of the preparation is keeping a routine cleaning and inspection of your heater. You can also have it inspected annually by a professional to keep it from emitting burning smells. Hopefully, you have seen this guide helpful in understanding more about heaters. Remember, knowing what to do helps even if you can’t entirely solve the issue on your heaters. After all, you can always ask for help.
Hi everyone! My name is Jason, and I am the founder of HeaterWise.com. Having run my own business as a Heating Engineer for 21 years, I have picked up a few things along the way.
I wanted to create Heater Wise as a place where anyone could come, from far and wide, to find the information that they need.
I hope you will join us here at Heater Wise, to get started on your own journey, to expand your knowledge, and make the best heating choices for you and your family.
