What you might least expect when you turn your heater on is a smell of something burning. It is normal for this to happen. Many people are unaware of the reason why it smells like something is on fire and they call the fire department. To avoid that embarrassing moment when the fire department tells you all is well, let Air Supply Heating and Air conditioning explain what happens the first time you turn the heater on after the summer months have ended.

Heater is Burning Dust Built Up from Spring & Summer Months

Not only does the fire department get calls a lot during the winter, but so do we. Many assume there is a fire or electrical problem. This can be the case and you should always be on the side of caution. However the first time you turn on the heater it is normal to have a burning smell in the house. In fact there is something burning. During the warmer spring and summer season, your heater will collect dust and debris that will sit inside your heating system until fall and winter. When you turn your heater on for the first time the dust and debris will burn up. This usually doesn’t cause any problems and will burn up fast and the smell will go away. However if the smell persists there might be another problem worth looking into.

Clogged Air Filters

To start, one cause of that burning smell could be a clogged filter. If your filters are clogged or even really dirty, this will pull the dirt into your furnace. In turn, this will continually emit that burning smell. To avoid this from happening, change your air filters or clean your reusable ones before you begin using your heater, to rule out this as a problem of that burning smell. If you forgot to change the filter at the beginning of the winter season, and the burning smell persists, check the filters first.

HVAC Home Inspection Checklist

One other possible cause for that burning smell is a foreign object that might’ve gotten stuck inside your unit. Check your unit for any clothes, plastics, and other forms of debris inside your HVAC unit that could cause a fire. Make sure you check in and out side the unit for any of these possibilities. The best chance to avoid a fire is to have your unit inspected before the change of the seasons and make sure that your unit has no problems. Especially if the previous year small problems arose at the end of the season. If you have any concerns on how your HVAC unit may run during this coming winter, don’t hesitate to have it inspected.

Furnace Heater Inspections, Troubleshooting, Emergency Repairs & Preventive Maintenance in Las Vegas Valley, Summerlin, North LV & Henderson Nevada

Air Supply Heating and Air Conditioning wants to help you understand that that burning smell isn’t unusual and is quite common. However you always want to err on the side of caution. Make sure you change your filters and check your unit for any debris before using it this winter. If you believe that their might be a problem or you want to just be cautious you may want to have your unit inspected. Call Air Supply Heating and Air Conditioning to help you prepare for winter and give you peace of mind.