Why Does My Central Heater Smell Like It's Burning?

Have you ever encountered a strange "toasty" smell emerging from your heater when you switch it on after a long time? Although a burning smell from a dormant central heating system is not always a matter of concern, you shouldn't ignore it either. Here are a few possible reasons that can be linked to the unpleasant odors, including when you should contact a professional for help.

1. The heater has a clogged air filter

The most probable cause of a burning smell coming through the heater is a clogged air filter. Sitting dormant, it's not uncommon that the filters might get blocked due to the accumulation of dust and dirt. In that case, there's no need to worry. All you'll have to do is replace the old filters with new, cleaned ones.

2. The heater has flammable objects in proximity

Is there any object near the heating unit or register vents that can catch fire? If so, remove all kinds of fabrics, plastics, or flammable objects in close proximity to the heater before you switch it on. At times, certain objects near the heater can also cause a burning smell. Therefore, always ensure there is plenty of safe distance between objects before you turn on your central heating system.

3. The heater has a burning dusty smell

Again, there is no need to panic. Dust particles that are settled on the heat exchangers, burners, or other components are burned off when the central heating system is activated. The smell will pass through the air vents for the first few minutes (or depending on the amount of dust, until all of it has burnt off), and then it will work just fine. However, if the dusty burning smell persists even after a few minutes, there might be a more serious underlying problem. You may want to call Heating Experts to get it checked as soon as possible.

4. The heater has a musty smell

If you are experiencing a musty smell from the heater, it's a sign of mildew in the central heating system or the ductwork. As mentioned earlier, replacing the dirty air filters would solve the problem, but if it doesn't, you'll have to use something more powerful. This can include using a duct cleaning solution with specialized equipment to sanitize the ductwork from bacteria growth. However, while duct cleaning is highly effective, you should still consider scheduling an inspection with expert heater technicians to receive proper heater service. Contact Heating Experts to get a full range of services to avoid other central heating problems.

5. The heater has an electrical burning smell

A grave situation to request immediate help is when your central heating system is turned on, and you smell electrical wires burning. There can be multiple reasons for this burning odor, including an overheated blower motor, frayed or damaged electrical wiring, or even a cracked heater exchange – these are all signs of danger!

However, there's no need to panic. As a safety measure, your heater will shut off automatically in such cases, but if there's something internally malfunctioning, the heater might continue to operate and become dangerously hot. With an electrical burning smell, immediately switch it off manually and contact experts.

Other smells that are a sign of a serious problem include oily smells or odors similar to gunpowder. In all cases, panicking will not solve your issue. If you suspect something very wrong that requires repair, call our team of technicians from Heating Experts to get your heater fixed in no time. Call us at 1300 100 040.