Should My Furnace Smell Like Heating Oil?
Countless American homes rely on heating oil to fuel their furnaces and keep their families safe and warm every year. Heating oil offers advantages such as low cost, steady supply, and high efficiency, making it easier to weather through the cold season. If you use heating oil at home and catch a whiff of a heating oil smell, it is normal to wonder if this is a cause for concern. It should not be an issue if you have an excellent containment system in place. The smell will likely go away quickly as well. If the oil smell does persist, however, consider calling a heating technician to diagnose the cause and find a solution.
Is It Normal To Smell Heating Oil?
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The smell of heating oil should not linger inside your home. However, it could still happen in some rare cases. It could either be fleeting or persistent. Some of the probable causes of these instances include:
1. Your Heating Oil Tank Was Recently Refilled
It is not uncommon to smell oil after a fuel delivery. The smell should dissipate by itself after a few days. There will be a faint smell in the air, but it shouldn’t be overpowering. If it takes longer for the smell to clear, check to see if the delivery personnel might have spilled oil on the ground.
Rest assured that Miller Oil Company provides the most dependable and safest heating oil deliveries in the area. We deliver your fuel without you having to worry about any problems like spilling. Call us today to learn more about our heating oil delivery services.
2. You Haven’t Used Your Furnace In A While
Your furnace is typically not in use during the hot months. Homeowners only switch their furnaces when the temperature drops. The oil-burning smell can occur because of your initial furnace use. This is completely normal and should not be a cause of worry. The smell should be gone after a while as well.
3. You Have A Clog In The Furnace Filter
The furnace filter traps dust, dirt, and debris from being distributed throughout your home. These contaminants accumulate in time and can block proper airflow. The oil smell can be due to a dirty filter. Therefore, ensure that the furnace is cleaned or replaced regularly. If the smell remains even after doing so, there might be other causes.
4. There Is An Underlying Furnace Problem
The smell could be because your furnace has a problem. For instance, it could have an inefficient operation. The oil might not combust completely, and what is left will cause the smell to linger in the air. There might also be cracks in the oil burner where fumes can escape through. Another issue is heat exchanger failure. Call your local trusted HVAC technician to determine and diagnose your furnace problem. An HVAC technician from Miller Oil Company has the knowledge and skill to help you.
Is A Heating Oil Smell Dangerous?
Most homeowners are worried about the oil smell because of how it might affect their health. Their concern is most prominent when the oil tank is in an enclosed space like the basement. However, heating oil is actually less dangerous than natural gas. Being exposed to low oil fume concentrations is not as harmful to your body. However, it is still best to avoid fume exposure at all times. Moreover, oil is stable so that you do not have to worry about explosions.
Any symptoms you are experiencing from short-term exposure should disappear when the odor disappears. Make sure that you avoid prolonged exposure, as this can cause severe health issues. Seek professional help immediately when you cannot find the cause of the oil smell. Otherwise, you might have to face more complicated repercussions with your system and health.
What To Do If You Smell Heating Oil
When you smell oil around your home, do the above-mentioned steps. Check if the filter needs replacing, inspect the burners to see if there are any cracks, and make sure there aren’t any oil spills. Switch off your furnace until the oil smell problem is diagnosed and resolved to be on the safe side. Open all windows and doors to let fresh air in. Keep children and pets out of the contaminated area to protect them.
Oil spills from your recent delivery should be cleaned immediately. Use a rag or any other absorbent material to keep the oil from spreading. Remove anything that might be damaged by the oil before you try cleaning the surface. Use water and soap. If you find that you have to deal with more than oil spilling in your property, call a professional for assistance. The problem might be more than what you can see or smell, so it is better to have an HVAC technician take a look and resolve the issue.
Conclusion
Our sense of smell can tell us about any danger that we might not be able to hear or see. Unusual odors can be a telltale sign that a problem needs to be solved right away. If the smell of heating oil lingers around your house, find the cause as it is not normal for your system to leak fumes. The oil should be contained in the tank at all times. However, recent oil delivery, dirty filters, and initial furnace use can cause the oil smell to linger in the air. An HVAC professional can help identify and resolve the problem quickly.
Call Miller Oil Company For Superior Home Comfort Solutions
For all your heating and cooling service needs, call Miller Oil Company. We have the best professionally certified technicians to conduct high-quality HVAC services, including maintenance, repairs, installations, and replacements. Rest assured, all our friendly techs are knowledgeable, experienced, and skilled to service your HVAC equipment accurately and on time every time.
Miller Oil Company offers one of the most competitive HVAC service prices in the area. We guarantee that our maintenance services improve comfort, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. We can also help ensure you have healthy indoor air quality. Our expert techs offer the most advanced solutions so that all your home comfort needs are met. All our services come with a guarantee. We also provide quick and affordable oil deliveries to keep you safe and warm throughout the winter season. Schedule an appointment with us today and call Miller Oil Company. We offer free, in-home estimates.
Click here to contact us today or give us a call at (860) 745-0326 if you have any questions.