Does the air coming through the HVAC system in your Swannanoa, North Carolina, home smell unpleasant? If so, you may be wondering what’s causing the odor. Read on to learn the most common HVAC odors and when a bad smell indicates a problem in the system.
Rotten Eggs
Many heating systems run on natural gas. Therefore, the familiar smell of rotten eggs coming through the vents could indicate a leak. The unpleasant odor is added to the naturally odorless gas to help you know when you could potentially have a leak. In this case, turn off the HVAC system immediately and contact an HVAC service technician and local gas company.
Open the windows to allow the space to air out. Prolonged exposure to the fumes from natural gas can make you sick. If you don’t shut off the system, the leak could increase the risk of a fire in your home. Make sure to follow the protocol, and don’t continue to run the heater.
Musty Odors
A musty smell may be cause for concern. That depends on the severity of the odor, though. You could have some microbial growth within the ducts or other components of the system, which can pose a health risk if anyone in your home is allergic to these substances. Microbial growth can also grow if the drainage system isn’t working properly. As a result, it’ll cause moisture to sit within the condenser tube.
Burning Smell
If you catch a whiff of a burning odor, it could signal a mechanical problem with the compressor or air conditioning fan. However, the smell of smoke can also circulate if anyone in your home smokes or someone is burning a pile of yard debris or trash nearby. An HVAC service technician can take a closer look to figure out what’s causing the smell.
When the air coming through your home’s HVAC system smells unpleasant, contact Gentry Heating, Inc. at 828-581-4045. We’ll send a service technician to your home to determine the cause.
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