Heater Smells Like Burning Plastic, Reasons and Remedy

Home becomes full of burning smells from the heater? Have to be ashamed of the stench in front of people? We have come with the complete solutions here.

Heater Smells Like Burning Plastic, Reasons and Remedy

If you notice a burning plastic smell coming from your heater, you might be wondering what is causing it and how to fix it.

In this blog post, we will explain some of the possible reasons why your heater smells like burning plastic and what you can do to prevent or resolve the issue.

Dust Accumulation

One of the most common causes of a burning plastic smell from a heater is dust accumulation.

Dust can build up on the heating elements, vents, filters, and other parts of your heater over time, especially if you don’t use it regularly or clean it often.

When you turn on your heater after a long period of inactivity, the dust can burn and produce a foul odor that resembles burning plastic.

To prevent this from happening, you should clean your heater regularly and replace the filters as needed.

You can use a vacuum cleaner, a soft brush, or a damp cloth to remove dust from the surface and inside of your heater. Make sure to unplug your heater and let it cool down before cleaning it.

Damaged Parts

Another possible cause of a burning plastic smell from a heater is a faulty or damaged part.

Sometimes, the wiring, insulation, fan motor, or other components of your heater can overheat, melt, or catch fire due to wear and tear, electrical issues, or mechanical problems.

This can result in a burning plastic smell and pose a fire hazard.

If you suspect that your heater has a faulty or damaged part, you should turn it off immediately and unplug it from the power source. Do not attempt to fix it yourself unless you are qualified and experienced.

You should contact a professional technician or the manufacturer for repair or replacement.

Foreign Object

A third possible cause of a burning plastic smell from a heater is a foreign object.

Sometimes, small items such as toys, paper clips, coins, or plastic wrappers can fall into or get stuck in your heater.

When your heater is turned on, these objects can heat up and melt or burn, creating a burning plastic smell.

To prevent this from happening, you should keep your heater away from children and pets and avoid placing any objects near or on top of it.

You should also check your heater for any foreign objects before using it. If you find any objects inside your heater, you should turn it off and unplug it and carefully remove them with tweezers or pliers.

Electrical Failure

Inside the furnace, if any of the plastic wires meltdown and gets burned, then you will find a burning rubber smell. Using the heater for a long time, current overflow, or faulty current source are the main reasons for burning a wire. So, call a technician and change the melted wire.

Faulty Air Vents

Plastic materials inside the air vents can be affected and cause smells. Therefore, it can affect your air vent system and decrease the overall efficiency of the heater. As the HVAC and air vent are sensitive portions, it is better to call an experienced technician.

Damaged Plastic Equipment

Burning plastic smell can also be a sign of burnt plastic parts inside the furnace. So, check out the capacitor, plastic wires, fan belt. Find the damaged one and replace it.

Other Facts

Smells can come from the other overheated house appliances too.

So, firstly find out the smell source.  Sometimes, a little burning smell comes when you open your heater after shutting down for a long time. It is a serious problem.

Mechanical malfunction is also a reason for burning out the furnace. If you fail to solve, call an expert.

The Solution of Electric Heater Smells Like Burning Plastic

Shut the Heater Off

Sometimes, starting the heater after a long time of no use, there a little burning smell comes. It is not a big deal. Just shut down and give the heater time (5 to 10minutes) to cool. 

Keep the Heater Parts Clean

Check the heater body regularly, especially the air vents. Remove the excess dirt by using a soft toothbrush. It is better to wipe the whole heater with a microfiber cloth. Don’t use water or any cleaning agent. Keep your plastic tools and materials far away from the furnace.

Check the Power Source and Electric Cables

Always do checking the heater power source and plastic cables inside. If any fault arises in your source, the heater will not run properly and produce horrible odors. Moreover, it is necessary to fix your current source and lines to prevent fault current and overflow too. Therefore, because of using low-quality current cables, burning happens easily.

Use a Vacuum

There are some hard-to-reach areas in a heater. To eliminate dust and debris from there, use vacuums with a narrow nozzle. Make sure that air filter filaments are not damaged while cleaning.

Make Proper Maintenance

Troubleshoot the whole heater by an expert after at least 12 months. Don’t allow your pet hair to accumulate in the heating portion and filter. Keep the ductwork fresh always.

Burning Smell from One Vent

heater smells like burning plastic – the reasons and solutions are

Extremely Hot Furnace

Shutting the heater off for a long time, its vent stays full of dirt. So, when you on the machine, the heat exchanger gets excessively hot inside the vent and burns the dust. So before starting, make proper cleaning of the duct and vent. You can use a vacuum or an air duct for this job.

Melted Wires

Check the electric kits of your vent if there is any short circuit. Electric shorts melt the insulators or plastic wires and make an odor.

Dirty Blower

Keep the blower neat and fresh to get a smooth and quieter operation. Clear your chimney and prevent that from bird nests or insects. During summer, leaves and twigs can make a blockage in the filter. The filter is needed most to get proper airflow and control overheat.

Heater Smells Like Burning Plastic When First Turned On

If you keep your heater off for years, if furnaces and heating functions sit idle the whole spring, they will be packed up with dust and debris. Therefore, air will not flow through the heating coils and the cooling system will fail. Then when you start the machine on a cold day, the dust layers will burn off first and create burning smells.

FAQ

Q: Why does the water heater smells like rotten eggs?

Ans: The problem is in your water. Your water contains Sulphur compounds. When the water becomes hot, Sulphur compounds create a reaction with the rods inside becoming a gas and producing a rotten egg smell. To solve this problem, remove the rod and bring an aluminum rod.

Q: Should I replace 30 years old water heater?

Ans: It is indicated in a survey by the US department of energy that, a furnace of more than nearly 25 years creates energy waste of 22% of the total consumed amount. Your furnace 25 years old means it has crossed its lifetime. So, to avoid any major accident, get a new one.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a burning plastic smell from your heater can be caused by dust accumulation, faulty or damaged parts, or foreign objects. You should clean your heater regularly, inspect it for any problems, and keep it away from any potential hazards. If the smell persists or worsens, you should stop using your heater and contact a professional for help.

The phenomenon of a heater exuding a smell akin to burning plastic can be attributed to various causes like burning dust, an overheated blower motor, or even more severe electrical issues within the heating system. Furnace smells, especially the unsettling scent of an electrical burning smell, should never be ignored. Over time, dust burns off as the heater kicks in, producing a burning dust smell which, while initially alarming, usually isn’t a cause for concern. However, a persistent smell burning plastic can be an early sign of a more significant issue with your HVAC system.

Having an HVAC technician inspect your system can provide peace of mind and assure you that the burning smells are not indicative of a serious problem. Experienced technicians can effectively diagnose and resolve the issues, whether they’re as simple as removing accumulated dust or as complex as an overheated blower motor in the HVC system. Even an oil furnace smell can be quickly remedied with a professional’s help.

In sum, while the scent of burning plastic from your heater may be distressing, it’s often a manageable issue. Regular maintenance of your heating system, including dust removal, can help prevent the disconcerting smells, while professional help can handle any complicated issues, ensuring your home remains warm and safe. Don’t allow furnace smells to disrupt your comfort—prompt action and preventative maintenance can help preserve the integrity of your HVAC system.