So I turned on the heater at my house for the first time today...

Kevin Alexander · 10-15-2003, 07:32 PM

...and I got this horrible "burnt" smell that came out of the vents because of not being used for so long. Of course, I immediately turned it off; but what can I do so as to not have that unpleasant smell again. Is there a filter that I change, or is there something to clean? I'd appreciate some help. Thanks.

Eric_L · 10-15-2003, 08:42 PM

you should specify if it is gas or electric. My guess is gas.

I still have yet to need a heater as it is 90F in Florida today.

If it is gas I suspect the smell could be anything from mildew being heated up to corosion to water vapors caught in the system catching carbon. But I am no expert and am just guessing.

Malcolm R · 10-15-2003, 08:54 PM

I think it's just dust on the heating elements. Happens every year here in New England when we first turn the heat back on. Generally burns itself off after a few cycles.

Michael*K · 10-15-2003, 08:59 PM

Yeah, the smell will usually go away after you've had the furnance running a day or two.

Bill Griffith · 10-16-2003, 07:03 AM

Its just dust like someone said. And you really should be carfeul as this is a way to start a fire. If you HVAC system is dirty enough with this dust and lint and other burnable items and your house is dry you could easily start a fire.

If you have a Central HVAC system there are access panels on it that you can open and clean the insides (Or you could hire someone to do it). Just make sure you shut off power to your system first. Clean them out real good a couple of weeks before you expect to need to use the heater. This should eliminate any chance of a fire starting and will minimize the smell, but won't get rid of it completely.

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David-S · 10-16-2003, 01:26 PM

Just turn it on a few days before you think you'll need it, and keep the windows open, that's what i did this year! (of course, my apt gets free heat, so you might not like this strategy as much

)

MickeS · 10-16-2003, 02:39 PM

Yeah, we get that smell too, and it goes away after a day or so of running it.

The big problem is that one of our cats completely freak out and SCREAMS at the top of her lungs when she smells it, for as long as it's on, so the first cold days of the year are rather annoying at our house...

Joseph DeMartino · 10-16-2003, 06:31 PM

It usually goes away within an hour or so when I run my heat. Never bothers the cats, but one year it did set off the smoke detector. I later moved that particular detector further away from the duct.

It is probably a good idea to have the ducts cleaned professionally once every couple of years, and - of course - to clean and/or change all the filters in the system (depending on type) at least once a year. But a certain amount of dust is inevitably going to collect and produce a smell when you run a heating system for the first time - especially one that is rarely used. (I live in southern Florida and probably need to run the heat a grand total of four or five days a year.) It isn't so much that the dust is burning, in most cases, as that it is being warmed up and blown into the room - and the warm particles excite your smell receptors more than cold ones do, just as warm foods smell "more" than cold ones do.

Regards,

Joe

DustinLC · 10-16-2003, 07:31 PM

Happen to us too. Not a very strong burnt smell and goes away in minutes. It seems that it's just a matter of degree for everyone. Normal so it seems.

Travis Hedger · 10-16-2003, 09:43 PM

It will pass, I hate turning ours on the first time, but we like it a bit cooler, the wife and I, so we try to hold off as long as possible before using the heater so we can delay the smell, and save on electricy and gas even further.