Strange Smells From The Heater? Basic Cleaning Isn't Enough
When you turn the heater on for the first time in months or years, it's understandable that strange smells may fill the building. Collected dust and other debris deep within the heating system can burn off to provide a strange smell. If the smell continues for more than a few days or began out of nowhere, you may need to do more than simple cleaning. Consider a few inspection and maintenance points to keep the air quality from your heater as high as possible.
Filter Replacement, Not Just Cleaning
In many cases, a heating system's filter can burn foul-smelling materials onto the ductwork or the filter. Filters can be susceptible to absorbing materials and then allowing a slow burn as the heat from the heating system pulls fumes from the filters.
Replacement is necessary in these cases, as cleaning may only remove surface stains and soaking can damage the filter to the point of ruining the filter process. You'll need to examine the immediate area for other nests that may be hard to see, as rival groups of pests may swoop in to cause the problem again.
Bugs, spilled chemicals or even rainwater exposure could be the culprit. If there's enough foul-smelling materials to coat the filter, you're either dealing with a large, one-time incident or a gradual problem that may still be in the area.
Look For Infestation And Cracks
There may be insects or other pests taking comfort in the warmer area near the ventilation or heating source that could be causing the bad smell.
Many pests secrete foul-smelling substances either for attracting mates, building home structures or simple waste relief. The pests may not be inside the actual heater, but nesting in rafters or corners near the heater. This is a big problem for heaters that are in out-of-the-way or hard to access areas.
It's best to contact a pest control professional for such issues. If you live in a remote area or simply can't get a pest control professional in the area, make sure to remove any filters before using pest control products. The air filter may be ruined as it becomes saturated with pest control chemicals, which can lead to many weeks of distributing harmful fumes throughout the building.
In addition to pest control, you'll need to thoroughly clean any infested areas after removing or otherwise disposing of the pests. Be sure to know exactly what pests you're dealing with and wear protective equipment to avoid pest attack or pest control poisoning.
Turn on the heater only after the area has been cleaned of both pest control and pest residue. Make sure to have ventilation plan available, such as a box fan or exhaust fan to pump out contaminated air and pump in fresh air.
Contact a heater repair professional (such as Bristol Heating & Air Conditioning) to thoroughly replace stained components and for help with locating hard to find heater smell sources.
Share