Is It Normal for My Oil Furnace to Smell?

Lack of Maintenance Can Lead to Odors

Sometimes, especially if you’ve ignored the benefits of getting regular heating maintenance, your furnace will give you warning signs of a problem that’s brewing – and those signs will often come in the form of odd smells. If you noticed any of these problems with your heating oil furnace last winter, it’s best to have your system checked over before you need to heat your Michigan home again.

Common Oil Furnace Odors

Strange odors coming from your furnace can indicate several problems; some are easy to fix, some are more complex. Here are some common furnace odors and what they may mean for your heating equipment.

• Fuel odors. If your system is working properly, you should never smell fuel oil. An oil smell could be caused by a leak, burner troubles, a heat exchanger failure or exhaust system problems. You should schedule service as soon as possible to correct this situation.
• Smoky odors when your oil burner is running. If a fireplace or exhaust fan is running at the same time as your heating oil burner, this can result in a smoky odor because a backdraft is pulling flue gases through the exhaust system and into the home.
• Dusty/burning smell. A dusty, burning smell coming from your furnace is quite common early in the heating season This smell usually results from your furnace burning away dust and dirt that has accumulated during the offseason. You shouldn’t have this problem for a prolonged length of time. But one other thing to try is replacing your air filter (which you should do at the beginning of the season anyway) before you call your heating oil service contractor for service.
• Electrical/burning wire smells. Electrical smells coming from your furnace are typically a sign of overheating. If your furnace is cycling often (turning on and off) for no clear reason, it could be your equipment protecting itself from a more substantial (and costly) breakdown. Give your furnace a rest for a few hours; if the problem starts again when you turn on your furnace, contact your heating oil service contractor for service.
• Mechanical smells. Worn out rubber and grinding metal parts produce a similar odor to electrical overheating. These smells can indicate a serious issue that needs immediate attention; shut your heating system down and call a heating oil expert right away.

Checking the Air Filter on Your Oil Furnace

In general, you should check the filter’s condition about once a month and change/clean it when necessary, during the heating season.
If your air filter gets clogged with dust and other debris, there is less room for air to flow through your system and through your home. Your furnace will need to work harder to circulate air, which will result in an increase in your heating bills. Your home will be less comfortable, and the indoor air quality will degrade. If neglected for too long, a dirty air filter can result in your furnace shutting down. Keep these tips in mind.

• Filters are found either inside the furnace or inside the return air vent.
• Some filter models are designed to be discarded and replaced with a new one.
• If your filter has a plastic frame, it can be cleaned and reused.
• Always follow manufacturer’s instructions and always shut the furnace off before doing anything with the filter.

Michigan Rebates and Federal Tax Credits

If you have an old heating oil furnace that is not as dependable as it once was and you’re frustrated about spending money on repairs, you should start researching your options for replacing your heating oil system.

This is especially important if the age of your heating oil system is 20 years old or older. That’s because just like any other piece of equipment around the home, systems will eventually deteriorate and require replacement. You can enjoy long-term savings for equipment upgrades. A new heating oil system should help you save 20% or more on your annual home heating costs.

Homeowners can now claim a federal tax credit of $600 for installing ENERGY STAR-certified heating oil systems that use renewable fuel blends of at least 20% biofuel. You may also be able to qualify for heating oil equipment rebates in Michigan, available for upgrades to a high-efficiency heating oil furnace, heating oil boiler or heating oil storage tank.

If you’re ready to explore new heating oil system options for your home, start off by reaching out to your Michigan heating oil company.