Here in Rochester, MN, long, cold winters are the norm. As a result, the furnace that heats your home likely gets more of a workout than those in warmer climes. The resulting wear and tear can accumulate into furnace issues that may pose a safety risk. Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to distinguish benign symptoms from serious ones. For example, a slight, temporary burning smell is typical when you first turn on your furnace each year. However, if that smell persists, it’s a sign of trouble. Here’s an overview of the problematic smells, sounds, and other symptoms of furnace trouble you should watch for. We’ll also discuss how you should handle them.
Strange or Strong Odors
Many furnace malfunctions result in strange furnace smells. Depending on what you notice, you may need an urgent furnace repair. The following are some furnace smells that require immediate action.
Rotten Egg/Sulfur Smell
One of the most serious problems a furnace may develop is a gas leak. When it happens, you may notice a rotten egg or sulfur smell near your furnace. The smell comes from a substance called mercaptan. Natural gas suppliers add it to their gas precisely so that you’ll notice a leak. Without it, natural gas would be odorless.
If you notice such smells near your furnace, you should never ignore them. Instead, you should evacuate your home immediately. Once you’re safely away, contact emergency services and your gas company. After they’ve made sure your home isn’t in imminent danger, call us for help. We’ll send an HVAC technician to inspect your furnace and make repairs.
Burning Plastic or Electrical Smell
Another sign of an immediate furnace repair need is a burning plastic or electrical smell. Often, those odors indicate damage to wiring inside your furnace. It could be coming from burning wire insulation or electrical arcing. Occasionally, they can point toward an overheating or failing blower motor.
If you notice burning plastic or electrical smells, ignoring them could have serious consequences. At the very least, your furnace might fail, leaving you without heat. At worst, your furnace may catch fire, endangering your home and everyone in it. Your best course of action is to turn off your furnace and then contact us to schedule an immediate repair appointment.
Musty or Mildew Smell
One of the more unpleasant odors that may come from your furnace is a musty smell. Occasionally, homeowners describe it as a dirty sock smell. It is usually caused by mold, mildew, or other organic growth inside your furnace. It’s especially common in homes with central AC systems that share an air handler with a furnace. The problem occurs because excess moisture fails to drain from the air handler during hot, humid weather. That creates the ideal environment for mold and mildew growth on your AC’s evaporator coil. Then, when you turn on your furnace, it blows air past the coil, spreading the awful smell around your home.
The good news is that the musty smell coming from your furnace may resolve on its own. As your furnace pushes hot air over the evaporator coil, it may kill the mold and end the smell. In that case, your best course of action is to have your system serviced to clean out anything that remains. If the smell doesn’t go away, however, it may point to mold or mildew growth in your ductwork. That requires careful duct cleaning, as it will only worsen with time. Unchecked mold growth inside your HVAC can lead to ill health effects for those in your home.
Unusual Noises
An ailing furnace may also make some unusual noises. Some are indications of serious malfunctions you shouldn’t ignore. Here are some noises that call for prompt furnace repair, along with homeowner tips to follow.
Banging or Popping
Banging or popping noises coming from your furnace aren’t always indicative of a problem. Sometimes, they result from your ductwork expanding and contracting as its temperature fluctuates. However, if you hear such sounds, you should make an effort to find out their source. If you hear them coming from your furnace itself, don’t ignore them.
Banging and popping sounds can point toward a clogged burner or an ignition system problem. In the case of the former, a clogged burner can restrict fuel flow, leading to incomplete combustion. To remedy that, you need a furnace maintenance visit. In the latter case, delayed ignition can cause small explosions in your furnace’s combustion chamber. That signals a need for repair. Either way, though, your furnace needs professional attention. Ignoring the problem can lead to damaged components, increasing your repair costs in the long run.
Squealing or Screeching
If your furnace ever emits a squealing or screeching sound, the problem almost certainly lies with its blower motor. If yours is an older model, the problem could be as simple as a worn-out fan belt. If it’s newer, the noise could be coming from failing bearings inside the blower motor. In both cases, ignoring the problem will lead to a blower motor failure. The good news is that replacing a blower belt isn’t difficult, but it’s best left to a professional. And lubricating or replacing bearings is often possible with most furnace blower motors.
Rattling
Rattling sounds from your furnace are also a noise that you shouldn’t ignore. Often, they’re caused by damaged blower mounts. That leads to a vibration when your furnace runs. While it isn’t, in and of itself, a sign of an imminent failure, you still shouldn’t ignore it. Letting your furnace run in a compromised state will only exacerbate the damage. Eventually, your blower motor will suffer excess wear from the vibrations. Rattling sounds may also indicate a loose blower wheel. It, too, will lead to a damaged blower, so you should schedule a furnace repair visit right away.
The Hidden Danger: Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Of all the symptoms of furnace issues you shouldn’t ignore, there are none more serious than your carbon monoxide (CO) detectors going off. CO is a colorless, odorless gas that results from the combustion of natural gas. That means there’s always a risk of carbon monoxide buildup from a furnace. When you breathe it in, CO displaces oxygen in your blood. As its concentration grows, you may suffer headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, and confusion. Eventually, you’ll lose consciousness. CO leaks can lead to death faster than you may think.
Typically, your furnace vents CO byproducts outside your home via its flue. However, there are a few issues that may prevent that. One is a blocked furnace flue. The other is a cracked heat exchanger. Both require immediate repair. However, before you call, turn off your furnace and have everyone leave your home. We’ll find the source of the problem and handle it for you.
Keep Your Home Safe With Furnace Maintenance
As a top provider of furnace services in Rochester, Haley Comfort Systems can help you keep your furnace running safely. We’re your trusted local experts in furnace safety in Minnesota. Our technicians can repair furnaces of any make or model. And if repair isn’t an option, we provide quality furnace replacements. We also offer financing options on approved credit.
As soon as you spot any signs of trouble with your furnace in Rochester, contact Haley Comfort Systems!
