Have you ever thought to yourself, “I wonder what my heat pump smells like?” The answer is probably not! This is because your heat pump really isn’t supposed to produce any kind of smell, to begin with! A little bit of whooshing noise, yes, but no smells.
So now you may be curious as to why you can smell something off when you run your heat pump. Did something get into your vents? It could have. There is more than one issue that can create a smelly heat pump problem. Thankfully we know how to identify the problem and fix it for you.
What Smells May Come From Your Heat Pump
Your heat pump shouldn’t create any kind of smell while in operation. At most, you might pick up on the scent of dust burning off the coil during heating mode for a day or so at the beginning of the heating season. Beyond this, your heat pump isn’t something you should smell at all.
So, if you are picking up on a smell when your system is running, you have every right to be a little concerned. Chances are you need maintenance or a heat pump repair in Fresno, CA.
Here’s what your nose needs to know about that smell.
- The smell of dirty socks: Does it smell like your teenager came home from practice and left their dirty socks in front of a vent? If so, the smell may be coming from a problem with your heat pump. You may have leftover moisture and even mildew in the condensate pan under your heat pump’s evaporator coil. When your system heats up it warms up the substances in the pan and on the coil itself and the smell ends up being carried throughout the house. Thankfully this is more easily resolved with maintenance and thorough cleaning of your system’s coil and drain line.
- The smell of burning electrical components: There aren’t many smells that match this one. It is sharp and bitter and distinct. Most of us recognize it pretty quickly too which is good as it can help us protect ourselves from possible electrical fires. If you notice that distinct acrid odor of burning electrical parts, turn your system off and call for repair. Whether it is frayed wires or worn-out connections, your system needs to be fixed ASAP.
- The smell of dust: We mentioned that smelling burning dust isn’t something to worry over since it may happen at the beginning of the season. And this is true. The problem arises when you continue to smell burning dust after several days or even weeks. This may indicate a bigger issue in your system that requires immediate attention.
Having a smelly heat pump in your home isn’t ideal. Thankfully, however, it is repairable with the help of a professional technician. If you need help getting your heat pump back to normal operation, contact Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning.
Schedule your appointment for heat pump repair with our team today.