Why Is There a Burning Smell When I Turn on the Heat?

It’s officially fall, and as the weather starts to cool down, you’re probably going to want to turn on your heat soon. Now, if you turn on your heat and start to smell what seems like something is burning, don’t fret! It’s actually completely normal.

Typically, a heater can smell like it’s burning when it’s first turned on after several months of not being used because of three main reasons:

Dust

While your heater is dormant, it’s common for dust to build up on the burners, heat exchangers, and other heating components. When you turn your heater on for the first time of the season, the dust will start burning away, creating that acrid smell. But don’t worry, it should clear up within a few minutes!

Clogged Air Filter

If your air filter has accumulated dust, pet hair, and other debris while it’s been off for the warmer months, it can also create that unpleasant burning smell. Luckily, the solution is easy: just replace the air filter and you should be good to go!

Wiring Issues

While uncommon, your system could have an electrical issue that’s contributing to the burning smell. If it still persists after a few minutes, give us a call at 919-646-2940 and we’ll send one of our experienced team members to check out the situation for you!

What could indicate a more serious issue is if your system smells like burning plastic or rubber when you turn it on. This could be caused by worn-out components, such as a fan belt or capacitor, or melting wiring insulation inside the furnace, which may be from an electrical fault in the system. If you smell burning plastic or rubber, turn your system off immediately and contact us.

We Can Help

Still not sure if that burning smell is normal—or if it persists over an hour after you turn on your heating system? We’d be happy to come to check it out for you! Call us at 919-646-2940 to have one of our Tower professionals take a look.