Not all strange smells in the home come from stuffed plastic bags. Certain smells can mean HVAC issues; others should be seen as desperate pleas for furnace repair. Be on the lookout for these smells after a long summer — that’s when the electric and chemical issues that may go overlooked. Furnace repair is never fun, but it’s far better done in early Autumn than mid-winter. Keep these three problem smells in mind to know when it’s time to take out the trash and when it’s time to call a heating contractor.

Rotten Eggs

Seemingly unexplained rotten eggs smell means you must leave your house immediately and call 911. The foul odor you smell is added to natural gas by suppliers to let homeowners know it’s leaked. By itself, natural gas is odorless, colorless, and extremely dangerous to inhale. If used properly, natural gas burns remarkably clean, creating water vapor and carbon dioxide — but when improperly combusted, it emits toxic carbon monoxide. Early signs of exposure include chest pain, shortness of breath, and headache. If that’s not bad enough, a house filled with natural gas is a profound fire hazard. Get out of there!

Electricity, Metal

Over time, the motor that keeps your furnace’s hot air blowing can experience mechanical issues. If the motor’s bearing starts to wear, it can overtax the motor, generating more heat than the system was intended to bear. This can result in motor failure and melting wires — a significant electrical and fire hazard. This sort of issue can also cause your furnace to randomly shut down. If you experience any of these signs, shut off your furnace and call a heating contractor.

Chemicals

It’s rarely a good thing to be surprised by the smell of formaldehyde. Trust your instincts if you pick up any vaguely chemical scents around your home: get on the phone with a heating contractor immediately. That chemical smell might be escaping from a cracked heat exchanger, which can leak carbon monoxide gas. The longer you put off furnace repair, the more dangerous this situation becomes. If you see or smell any cracks, just get them fixed.

In regards to home safety, “trust your instincts” is a good overall rule of thumb. You can’t be too careful about the health of yourself and your family. If anything seems suspicious, there’s no harm in contacting a heating contractor just to see if your concerns are warranted. In the end, it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Moutka Mechanical keeps Anchorage warm in the winter and safe year-round. After nearly two decades of work, they’re proud to guarantee every bit of their work, from in-house sheet metal fabrication to boiler, furnace, and HVAC installation. Call Muotka Mechanical at (907) 344-8825 today or visit their website to enlist Anchorage’s leading heating and cooling contractors.