Heating your home in Indiana with a gas furnace combats the area’s chilly outdoor temperatures during the winter months. However, if strange odors suddenly fill your house as you turn on the furnace, don’t ignore them.
Why do I smell gas when my furnace kicks on? In this guide, we share why smells occur as you operate your heating unit and how this may impact your heating system. Still, if the problem seems ongoing, you shouldn’t wait to schedule a furnace repair from experts like Complete Comfort, a premier HVAC company in Greenwood, Indiana.
Are Gas Odors From the Furnace Normal?
Households with gas furnaces may notice the distinct smell of the chemical (mercaptan). Gas distributors add it to odorless natural gas for leak detection purposes.
It’s normal for furnaces to emit some gas each time they run, so don’t panic if the immediate area around your heater smells like gas. However, persistent or overwhelming gas odors indicate a larger problem.
Top Reasons Why the Furnace Emits Gas Odors
Pay attention to any gas odors that your furnace releases and whether they linger throughout the house. You could smell gas for many reasons, though some are more severe than others.
Below, learn why your house smells like gas and what you can do to resolve the issue.
You’re Using the Furnace for the First Time in a Long While
Why do I smell gas when my furnace kicks on? If the furnace has been idle for several weeks or months, it will often emit stronger gas odors the first time you turn it on after the break. These odors may be more prominent if your furnace has a buildup of dust or debris on its internal components.
For the best results in the upcoming cold season, turn on your furnace while promoting cross ventilation—open some windows. The anticipated gas odor should dissipate within a few minutes. If the smell doesn’t go away, there could be a gas leak problem.
Airflow and Backdraft Problems
If you smell gas, your furnace could be working properly but letting exhaust odors find their way into your home. The exhaust system may not dispense gasses far enough away from your house. When this happens, the odors could flow back into your home via the windows.
It’s crucial to schedule annual furnace maintenance so this common problem doesn’t occur. Technicians can check the exhaust pipes for debris that restricts airflow. High-efficiency units often have this type of problem.
Faulty Heat Exchanger
Why do I smell gas when my furnace kicks on? Why isn’t the smell going away? Your furnace heat exchanger may be to blame.
The main purpose of the heat exchanger is to filter the dangerous fumes that burn in the combustion chamber so that safe, warm air enters your home. It can crack due to overheating, which spells trouble, as cracked heat exchangers can’t fully prevent gas fumes from blowing through your vents.
It’s dangerous because, in addition to natural gas, which has a rotten egg smell, you’ll also risk exposure to carbon monoxide. This toxic gas is both odorless and colorless, so it’s vital to have working carbon monoxide detectors that can warn you of a leak.
Gas Valve Leak
Finally, you might smell gas when the furnace turns on because of a leak somewhere in your gas line.
You can open up your windows to promote cross ventilation, but the odor will continue to fill your home until you patch any leaks in the system. This is a serious issue that requires immediate intervention from an HVAC professional like Complete Comfort.
How To Detect and Address a Gas Leak
If you haven’t used your heater in a while, you don’t have to wonder, “Why do I smell gas when my furnace kicks on?” However, if you continuously run your heater and gas odors won’t go away, it could be a sign of a dangerous leak. Thankfully, detecting a gas leak is fairly easy.
First, you’ll notice the distinct rotten egg smell of the mercaptan that gas companies add to their natural gas supply stocks for your protection. In addition to this overpowering scent, you’ll likely notice the following issues:
- Hissing sounds coming from your furnace
- A furnace flame that is yellow instead of blue
- Decaying plants around your home
Contact an HVAC professional at the first sign of a gas leak. Don’t attempt any repairs yourself since this can be extremely dangerous and create further problems with the unit. For your safety, evacuate the home until a technician repairs the leak and check everyone for symptoms of natural gas poisoning, including nausea and migraines.
How To Prevent Gas Odors Coming From the Furnace
You now have several answers to the question of why you smell gas when the furnace kicks on, but is there a way to prevent this in cases where you just haven’t used the unit in a while? Yes, starting with scheduling routine furnace maintenance. This is the best way to prevent major problems like gas leaks and cracked heat exchangers since experts inspect all parts of the system, including the heat exchanger, gas valve, and exhaust piping.
Your furnace might emit some gas odors the first time you turn it on after months of sitting idle. Why not book a tune-up service before the start of the heating season and avoid these issues? Professional maintenance can limit the strength of the odor since technicians will clean off any dust or debris.
Minor gas smells should dissipate within a few minutes—if they don’t, switch it off and reach out to an HVAC contractor for an inspection.
Contact Complete Comfort for Superior Heating Repairs
Why do I smell gas when my furnace kicks on? If gas odors linger or your furnace won’t turn on at all, you need professional technicians for safe and reliable repairs. The specialists at Complete Comfort offer reliable furnace repairs, as well as repairing and installing heat pumps, boilers, and gas and electric-powered furnaces.
Call (317) 342-4960 to schedule service with Complete Comfort today!