Strange odors that come from your heat pump and fill your Bessemer, AL home are unpleasant and can also indicate trouble with the system. Here’s some information about a few unusual heat pump smells and what they likely mean.
Ether
If you detect this smell coming from your heat pump, you are almost certainly in some danger. This is the smell of refrigerant, a highly toxic chemical that can cause nervous system damage to those who inhale it. Upon noticing this odor, you should immediately leave your home.
After you have left your home and are safe, request a licensed HVAC technician to come in and repair the issue. The technicians will find the source, stop the leak and replace the refrigerant that has escaped from your system.
Burning
Heat pumps are electrically powered devices, so burning smells may have an unpleasant meaning. Specifically, they may suggest that a wire in your HVAC system has short-circuited and sparked a fire. If any of the system’s plastic components begin burning, the smell may become especially terrible.
Another possible explanation for such an odor is that a large amount of dust inside your system has begun blocking airflow and causing the system to overheat. In response, you’ll need to clean your heat pump’s air filters and schedule maintenance services. HVAC technicians can remove the remaining debris.
Rotting Meat
The only plus side to encountering this especially awful stench from your heat pump is that its sheer offensiveness will probably prompt you to take immediate action. The most likely explanation is that an animal has crawled into your ductwork and died there.
Once you sniff out any trouble with your HVAC system, you will need to request professional assistance. Call Total Comfort Heating and Air and schedule our heat pump repair services near Bessemer, AL today.
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