Your HVAC system should keep your Carrollton, Texas home comfortable no matter what the outside temperature is. While a good HVAC unit can run for a long time without problems, there are times when your HVAC system may be telling you it is in need of repair. If you detect any of the odors below coming from your home, it may be time to call in an HVAC specialist to investigate the issue.

The Smell of Rotten Eggs

The sulfuric smell of rotten eggs is an unmistakable sign that something is not right in your home. This smell often indicates that there is a natural gas leak present in the home which can be extremely dangerous. If you detect this smell, you need to open up the windows in your home, leave the house, and call the gas company and an HVAC specialist.

The Smell of Gas

The smell of gas coming from your HVAC system might signal mild issues or major ones so it should never be ignored. If you notice the smell of burning gas when you first turn on your heater after the long summer and the smell eventually dissipates, it is most likely a buildup of dust that settled in your system when it was not running. If the smell is not coming out of your vents or it does not go away after a short amount of time, odds are a leaky pipe is the culprit and you will need to call in a technician.

Electrical Odors

If you are smelling an odor similar to overheating, that might just be the case. Electrical odors can smell like overheating or burning and are issues that need to be addressed immediately to keep your home safe. If you detect this smell, first turn off the power to the system. Next, check your air filter to make sure there is no clogging or restricted airflow. If this does not rectify the problem, odds are there is probably an issue with either the wiring or a motor. These problems will need to be addressed by an HVAC technician as electrical repairs can result in severe injuries.

An Oily Smell

Oily smells can be the signal of two types of HVAC problems. The first is the possibility of an oil leak which often means that a fitting on the tank needs to be tightened. It could also mean that an oil line needs to be repaired, tightened, or replaced. The final possible cause could be a bad filter. Even though this concern is not necessarily a major impending disaster, it is a repair that should be made by a qualified repair technician. Not only will they be able to detect the problem and check for others, but they also have the ability to properly dispose of the oil.

If it doesn’t appear to be an oil leak, the issue that could be occurring is that the oil burner is no longer functioning properly. Oil burner malfunctions are the result of a clogged burner or a bad fuel pump. To determine if it is the oil burner, watch for other signs such as smoke and soot around the system. If you believe you may have a problem with the oil burner, make sure to call a qualified repair professional to address this issue.

The Smell of Burnt Smoke

If you notice a smoldering smell throughout your home or a continuous smell of burning, you may be experiencing a problem with a faulty condensation coil. When the condensation coils are not working properly, they can emit a smoky smell that gets propelled into your ventilation ducts causing odor in your home. This problem can often be prevented by having your system regularly maintained to remove dirt and debris that can clog up and cause the condensation coils to malfunction.

If you notice one of the five smells listed above, or any other unusual odors coming from your HVAC system, it is time to call the HVAC specialists at Lex Air Conditioning and Heating at 972-201-9608 today.

Image provided by Bigstock