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Is there an unpleasant, burning odor coming from your air conditioner when you turn the heat on? This problem is much more common than you may think. While, in some cases, it could be a significant problem, chances are that this is something that can be easily repaired by yourself or a qualified HVAC technician.
If you suspect a fire, evacuate and call the fire department as soon as possible!
Most people will rarely use the heating feature on their air conditioner due to the warmer climate in Southwest Florida. However, if there is a cold snap and you do turn on the heat, chances are that it is the first time it has been turned on in quite a while.
In the interim, the dust has collected inside the unit, and these tiny particles are being burnt up by the air conditioning unit. The smell of burning should dissipate within a few minutes after turning the unit on.
If the odor continues for an extended period or gets worse, it could be a more severe problem. Turn the unit off immediately and call an HVAC technician.
If you notice a burning smell and you haven’t turned on the heat, and your air conditioner is running in cooling mode, shut it off immediately. If something is wrong with the electrics or other components in the unit, allowing it to continue running will only make it worse and could result in catastrophic failure. Instead, call an AC specialist to identify and resolve the problem as soon as possible.
If none of the above reasons sound right and the burning smell continues, whether your air conditioner is running hot or cold, turn the unit off and open all windows and door to air out your home and prevent setting off the fire alarm. Call an HVAC specialist to check the group and make any necessary repairs before turning the air conditioner back on.
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When you mentioned that turning on a heater after a long time may cause burning smells, I remembered the time that we came home after a long family trip and used our HVAC appliances. After just a few minutes, we smelled something similar to burnt paper and decided to turn everything off. Now that I know that this indeed can be caused by a dirty heater, I'll look for an HVAC contractor that can help us fix this before we use it again.