Winter in Texas may be shorter and milder than in other regions, but there are rare days when it can become bitingly cold. At these times. keep your home toasty and comfortable by turning up the heat. However, if you haven’t fired up your heating system in a while or you just got a new one installed, you might notice a burning odor coming from it. This isn’t always a reason to call the fire department, but it can mean your current heating system has a serious underlying problem. This will mostly depend on the burning smell. Air Comfort, Inc., the premier residential and marine HVAC company in the area, shares what you need to know below: 

Heating System
  • Burning Dust Smell. The first time you turn on your heating system for the winter, you’ll probably notice this particular smell. The fact is that dust and other debris can pile up on the heat exchanger, burners and other heating components of the unit. When you switch on your heating system, these particles will burn off, producing a smoky, burning smell. 

    How to Deal With This: You don’t actually have to do anything about this. The smoky, burning smell should stop once all the dust particles have burned off. The problem begins when the odor continues to linger over time or gets worse. Should this happen to be the case, make sure to turn off your heating system immediately and consult a trusted heating and air conditioning repair company like Air Comfort, Inc. promptly for a comprehensive inspection and emergency maintenance.
  • Electrical, Metallic or Plastic Burning Smells. While the smell of burning dust is fairly common–and not altogether serious–there’s one smell that does spell bad news. If you’ve just turned on your heating system and notice an electrical, sort of metallic or plastic odor, shut the unit down immediately. It probably has an overheated motor, a worn bearing or faulty wiring. Perhaps the system even has a cracked heat exchanger–which can be incredibly risky when overlooked. If the smell is coming from one of your vents or registers, there’s probably a lost plastic toy or foreign object in the ductwork. 

    How to Deal With This: Call your heating or air conditioning repair expert as soon as possible. This smell indicates a serious problem with your heating system, and you’ll want to ensure your safety and health. If the burning plastic smell turns out to be a toy that somehow ended up inside the duct, remove it carefully. If there’s not actually a toy or foreign object inside, you should again call your trusted local HVAC company so they can figure out what’s wrong.

    Other Smells to be Wary Of
    Burning electrical smells are a serious warning sign of an underlying heating problem. but there are also other strange HVAC odors that you shouldn’t overlook because they can be just as harmful. These include:
  • A musty locker room smell. This type of smell usually develops when there’s mold or bacterial buildup in your HVAC system. Mold spores and bacteria circulating repeatedly throughout your home results in poor indoor air quality, which can present a number of health risks. Another reason for this odor is organic growth on the cooling or evaporator coils or inside the ductwork. 

    How to Deal With This: Make sure to check your air filter for any mold growth and replace it as necessary. Not only that–you should have the ductwork and evaporator coils cleaned by a professional heating and air conditioning service company like Air Comfort, Inc. This way, you can get rid of this problem and maintain a much safer, healthier home.
  • A rotten egg or sulfuric smell. The cause of this odor may not be tied to your HVAC system at all. If any appliances in your home generate this rotten egg smell, it can only mean a dangerous issue with your gas line. This isn’t something you should put off.

    How to Deal With This. Leave your home immediately and call the gas company. Gas leaks are a hazard and should only be handled by trained, experienced professionals.
  • Why You Should Work With Air Comfort, Inc.
    Dealing with heating problems becomes easier when you turn to a reliable professional like Air Comfort, Inc. We’re not just your marine HVAC experts–we can also handle all your heating needs. Just schedule a heating tune-up with us, and we’ll have our exemplary HVAC technicians clean, check and inspect your entire system. With our superior solutions, we’ll make sure your heating system runs safely and smoothly this winter.

    Here are some of the reasons to choose us for the job:
  • Commitment to complete client satisfaction. Our customer-centric approach ensures that you get high-quality HVAC products and services that always deliver satisfactory results–but at a competitive price. Our HVAC technicians will be more than happy to listen to what you need, help you explore your options and decide on the HVAC solution that best fits your specific needs and whatever unique or demanding environment you live or work in. 
  • Superior HVAC products. Air Comfort Inc. represents some of the leading HVAC brands in North America, including Carrier®, Trane®, General Electric®, Honeywell® and Westinghouse®. You can always count on us to install them according to stringent safety and quality specifications, plus you’ll benefit from the solid warranty coverage included with them. If you need your new HVAC equipment custom- designed, we can meet that need, as well. This way, you can be sure your home or commercial property has the right system to provide reliable, energy-efficient heating and cooling performance.
  • Vast industry experience. Air Comfort, Inc. has provided homeowners, commercial and industrial property managers and even the marine sector with personalized HVAC solutions for over 60 years. We have the know-how to do things right the first time. No shortcuts, no callbacks–only exceptional services that leave no room for mistakes. Look no further for the excellent installation, repair and maintenance of your heating, air conditioning, refrigeration and ventilation equipment.

In addition to air conditioning service, Air Comfort, Inc. can also handle your heating repair and maintenance needs. Expect only a safe, worry-free experience when you turn to us for all your HVAC needs. We proudly serve Beaumont, TX, and the surrounding areas. Call us today at (409) 833-5665 or fill out this contact form to schedule your HVAC evaluation. We’d love to hear from you!