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P.K. Wadsworth Heating & Cooling

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What Can You Do About Strange Air Conditioner/Furnace Smells?

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One of the most common questions we get here at P.K. Wadsworth is “why does my AC smell bad?” While this question can be hard to answer over the phone, there are actually a lot of reasons why a not-so-sweet scent will be wafting throughout your entire home from your AC unit or furnace. Luckily, our team of experts has seen (and smelled) it all, and is here to take you through multiple different scents you might be sniffing, and what they could mean for you and your home’s safety.

What’s That Smell Coming Out of My Cleveland Air Conditioning Unit?

Here are six of the most common air conditioner smells and what might be causing them:

  • Sulfur or rotten eggs: This scent is almost always a sign that you have a gas leak or an unlit pilot light that is allowing gas to seep continually into your home. We highly suggest you do not investigate this smell on your own, because gas is highly flammable and could cause bodily harm. Instead, we recommend you call your gas company ASAP to report this smell. In the meantime, visit a neighbor or friend until the issue has been fixed.
  • Electrical or burnt smell: These scents are pretty unmistakable. It usually indicates that your motor is overheating, your electrical wiring is damaged, or oil is burning. We recommend that you turn off your system and call your HVAC company immediately.
    • It’s important to note that a type of burning smell can occur annually at the beginning of the heating season. This often happens when the dust that accumulates on your heating surfaces begins to burn off when your heater starts up. Generally, this smell disappears after a few cycles because the dust is consumed. If the odor continues, however, it’s a good idea to get your unit checked out by a professional.
  • Musty or damp smell: In almost all cases, a damp or musty smell indicates mold or mildew is present in your air ducts and/or ventilation system. Not only does this lead to an unpleasant odor, it also means indoor air quality is compromised since mold can both cause and exacerbate respiratory issues. Schedule an HVAC appointment to have air ducts inspected and cleaned, if necessary. Filters should be replaced regularly as well. These smells are also a sign that interior humidity levels are too high, in which case you should consider the benefits of a whole-house dehumidifier.
  • Dirty socks or stinky feet: This is literally called “dirty sock syndrome” and occurs when your unit has dirty evaporator coils, clogged condensation drain pans, or stagnant water. Usually, dirty sock syndrome is not a risk to your health, but you should still call your local HVAC company to inquire about it. However, if you or someone in your home suffers from asthma or extreme allergies, you may want to take “dirty sock syndrome” more seriously.
  • Rotting carcass or dirty trash: As upsetting as it is to think about, sometimes critters from outside will try and crawl toward your furnace for warmth in the winter. If they die near your unit, you’ll be able to identify the smell of it pretty quickly. If you go inspecting and find a decomposing animal, you better call your HVAC company ASAP
  • Sewage: We know – ew! But sometimes your sewer gases can back up into your home if your unit has dry p-taps. This isn’t necessarily an AC problem; however, it is still something to sort out with your HVAC or plumbing company right away. You can try to run water through all your sinks to get rid of the scent, but your best bet is to give a professional a call.

Premier HVAC Services Throughout the Cleveland Area

If you’re worried about the smell coming from your air conditioning unit or furnace, look no further for help than P.K. Wadsworth Heating & Cooling. We have been family-owned and -operated and serving the Cleveland area for over 80 years. We pride ourselves on our customer service, attentiveness, a high degree of training, and use of the latest technologies to get the job done. Let us help you get your home back to feeling (and smelling) normal!

What’s That Smell?

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If you turn your heat on for the first time in winter only to find a funny burning smell, it is not necessarily a reason to panic. In fact, most homeowners will have the same experience at the beginning of the cold season. So why does this smell occur?

What is That Burning Smell Coming From My Cleveland Heating System

There are a few reasons why you might have that burning smell when you turn your heating system on:

Dust build up – When your furnace or heating system sits unused for several months, dust can settle in and around the heating system’s parts. This dust then needs to be burnt off once the heating system starts up and this can cause that overheating, burning smell. This smell may happen the first couple of times you turn the heating system on after it hasn’t been used, however, it should burn off quickly.

Heat strips (for heat pumps or electric furnaces) – If you have just adjusted your thermostat up by more than two degrees or it is especially cold outside, you may notice the same type of burning smell. There are heat strips inside the air handler and these heat strips help supplement the heating system when it is struggling to meet your heating demands. Activating heat strips that have not been used in months may result in a burning smell from built up dust.

If the burning smell coming from the heat system is continuous there may be a bigger issue. If this is the case you may have objects in the ducts that are burning or melting, faulty heating components, or the electrical system may be experiencing issues. If the burning smell continues, be sure to contact a heating expert.

Who to Contact if Your Cleveland Heating System Needs Repairs

If you notice a continuous burning smell or your heating system cannot keep up with your home’s heating demands, contact the team at P.K Wadsworth Heating & Cooling today! We offer high-quality workmanship and great customer service. Call us today to make sure your heating system is ready to handle the upcoming winter.

Why Is Cold Air Blowing From My Furnace?

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You can hear your furnace cycling on and off but your home is getting colder. You place your hand by the vent only to find that your furnace is blowing cold. There could be a few reasons why your furnace is only pumping out cold air. No matter what the reason, it’s important to find a solution and get your furnace fixed fast.

Why is my furnace blowing cold?

Here are the most common problems that may cause cold air to blast out of your vents:

  • Your Thermostat – This one can be a simple fix. Check the fan switch on your thermostat; if it’s set to ON this will cause the blower to run non-stop even when the furnace isn’t heating the air. This leaves cold air blowing into your home when the burner is off. Flip the fan switch to AUTO and your furnace blower motor should start cycling on and off again and blowing hot.
  • Your Furnace – If your furnace was blowing hot one minute then it starts blowing cold, your furnace may have overheated. If this is the case, your furnace may stop blowing air altogether. When your furnace overheats it goes from blowing cold air to triggering the limit switch. This switch is a safety feature designed to turn the burners off when your system starts to overheat. Start with changing out your air filters; dirty air filters can trigger overheating. If this doesn’t help, it may be time to call in the experts.
  • Your Pilot Light – If you have a older (likely over 20 years old) gas furnace, the pilot light may be out. If this is the case and you feel confident doing so, try to re-light the pilot light. If it won’t light or it won’t stay lit there may be a problem with the gas supply or the thermocouple. If you’re having an issue with your pilot light, call a professional, it isn’t something you want to mess around with.
  • Really Cold Weather – Sometimes during really cold weather, you outside gas meter can malfunction and stop or reduce gas flow to your home.  Additionally, excess demand can infrequently overtax the gas supply system.  Check with the gas utility or your HVAC pros for this problem.

Cleveland Furnace Problems

If you have Cleveland furnace problems, contact the team at P.K. Wadsworth today.

How Does Humidity Affect HVAC Performance?

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When the humidity rises, it’s nice to retreat inside your home where the air conditioning system has kept the air cooler and less humid. But have you ever thought about how high humidity affects the performance of your HVAC system? Here’s a look.

Humidity and Your Air Conditioner

It’s your air conditioner’s job to remove humidity and heat from the air. However, the most humid of days can be taking a toll on your system, leading to reduced HVAC performance particularly if any of the following are true:

  • Your AC unit is not properly sized for your home
  • Your AC unit is old and has begun to work less efficiently
  • Your system has not been properly maintained

If you have an improperly sized, aging, or poorly maintained unit, you might notice your energy bills skyrocket after a bout of high humidity. The system has been working overtime, but it simply cannot keep up. Your home might feel sticky and warm even though the AC has been running constantly. You may also notice condensation forming on the inside of your windows from all of the moisture. Struggling to keep up in high humidity puts a lot of wear and tear on your HVAC system and may shorten its lifespan in the long term.

How to Reduce Strain on Your Air Conditioner

Experts recommend keeping indoor humidity levels below 50%, though a level around 40% is even better. If your system is struggling to maintain this humidity level, an HVAC professional can install a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture and reduce strain on your AC unit. This should increase HVAC performance and keep your home more comfortable.

Properly maintaining your HVAC system will also ensure it’s able to function effectively in high humidity. Change your filter every month and remember to schedule yearly inspections to ensure any problems are caught and repaired early. When purchasing a new AC unit, work with your contractor to ensure it’s the proper size for your home.

If your HVAC performance is declining in high humidity, contact the experts at P.K. Wadsworth to schedule an inspection today.

Your New Furnace: All About the Sizing

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Your HVAC system is the most important system in your home when it comes to energy efficiency, comfort and indoor air quality. The wrong-sized heating system will have a noticeable effect on all three of these factors. Prior to the last decade or so, contractors used rule of thumb calculations, determining furnace size by square footage and/or the number of rooms in the house. Now, to compensate for stricter building code modifications, rule of thumb measurements are no longer acceptable.

If you’re replacing your furnace, it’s imperative that your HVAC contractor use accurate load calculations before recommending the best make and model for your your home. Here are some of the things your contractor will take into consideration when using load calculations for accurate furnace sizing.

Manuals J and D

Often HVAC manufacturers have established load estimating procedures used to size HVAC equipment. Alternately, the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) – a national contractor trade association – has also created Manual J and D that make load calculations much easier. Your HVAC technician will be able to plug in various pieces of information about your home, and the load calculations will be determined via the software. Manual J deals specifically with heating and cooling equipment. If you have an older home, your contractor may use Manual D (or similar program) to re-evaluate your duct design. Though often somewhat involved- it might be worth it to redesign your duct system if your current layout and/or duct equipment are inefficient.

Factors That Affect Heating Load

Your contractor will do a thorough inspection of your home during a load calculation appointment. There are a variety of factors that affect how well a particular furnace will heat your home. These factors include points like:

  • Your home’s orientation
  • The types of windows and window treatments used
  • R-value of home insulation and whether the quantity of insulation is sufficient
  • Air leakage rates
  • Number and types of heat gaining appliances
  • Occupancy

Once these and other factors have been entered into the Manual J software, your contractor will complete the furnace sizing process by recommending the makes and models that are best suited for your home.

Contact P.K. Wadsworth Heating & Cooling for precise load calculations and to accurately size the furnace replacement for your Cleveland area home.

Air-Source Heat Pumps: The Pros and Cons

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Having an air-source heat pump in a climate like ours has its pros and cons. Most occur in the winter, since these systems are heat-dependent. Improvements in their technology is making them viable choices for use in northern states, but before you choose, consider these advantages and disadvantages of air source heat pumps:

Pros of an Air-Source Heat Pump

  • The cooling efficiency of a heat pump is the same as a central air conditioner. They have to meet the same minimum seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) ratings as air conditioners. The minimum SEER stands at 13 and some heat pumps have SEER ratings that reach the mid 20s.
  • A heat pump offers three times the heating efficiency of electric heating, which can create only one unit of heat for each watt of electricity used. Heat pumps, on the other hand, can create three times or more heat from each watt they use. The pump’s ability to heat depends on its heating season performance factor (HSPF); the minimum starts at 7.7. Systems with higher ratings put out much more heat. They’re safe and convenient because they don’t require flammable fuels like natural gas or propane.

Cons of an Air-Source Heat Pump

  • An air-source heat pump works well as long as temperatures are above freezing. Below that temperature, less heat is available, and the pump may have to rely on its supplemental heating coil to warm your home. This coil uses electricity to heat and will increase heating costs.
  • Turning the temperature down at night in the winter can increase your energy bills. The only way to avoid triggering the supplemental heating coil is with an intelligent recovery (smart) thermostat.
  • The coils in the outdoor condenser can freeze in the winter. The pump thaws them by switching to the cooling mode indoors, removing heat from your home to warm the outdoor coil.
  • Heat pumps perform best in homes that are highly energy efficient.

Many of the objections to using an air-source heat pump in our climate can be overcome with proper design, installation and service. To learn more, contact P.K. Wadsworth Heating & Cooling. We’ve been providing HVAC services for greater Cleveland homeowners since 1936.