4 Common HVAC Odors and What They Could Mean

Your family depends on the HVAC system within your El Paso, Texas, home to maintain a comfortable indoor atmosphere, especially when the temperatures and humidity levels start to climb. If you notice any unpleasant odors when you run your heating and cooling system, you may need to schedule a repair service.

1. Electrical Odors

A burning electrical smell is often a cause for concern. It can mean your system is overheating, causing the wiring to spark or burn. However, newer systems will often give off this smell for a short period of time, so if your unit was installed recently, you likely don’t need to worry. Catching a whiff of an electrical burning smell coming from an older unit can indicate a problem and merits a call to one of our HVAC technicians.

2. Natural Gas

The smell of natural gas, which is similar to the odor of rotten eggs, is extremely concerning and usually indicates the presence of a leak. If you smell this in your home, turn the system off completely and call your local gas company. Then, get out of the house as soon as you can. A gas leak can increase the risk of a fire or explosion, so make sure you’re safe.

3. Acetone

The smell of acetone may be unfamiliar to you, especially if you haven’t used nail polish remover or worked with air conditioning refrigerant. However, this odor is distinctive and can indicate that your refrigerant is leaking. Not only can this type of leak impact your HVAC system’s operation, but it can also be hazardous to your health and reduce the quality of your indoor air.

4. Musty Smells

A musty odor in the air may indicate the presence of moisture in your ducts. This can lead to an increased risk of biological growth, which can cause allergic symptoms like congestion, headaches, sore throats, coughing, and eye irritation.

If your HVAC system is giving off any strange odors, our team at Kings Aire can help so give us a call at (915) 592-2997.

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