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clogged floor drains

Is a Burning Smell Normal When I Turn on the Heat?

If you’ve just turned on the heat for the first time this season and noticed a burning smell, you might be concerned that something is wrong with your furnace. Before you call a furnace repair service, such as Morrison Plumbing in Belleville, IL, you should note that there are several types of burning smells that can occur when you turn on the heat, and that not all of them are harmful.

Burning Dust

It is normal for heaters to smell like burning dust when you turn them on for the first time in several months. While the system is not in use, dust builds up on the vents and on other parts, leading to a bad smell when it burns off when you turn on the heat in winter.

This kind of smell should quickly dissipate. It is usually only present the first time you turn on the heat after a long period of not using your furnace. If the smell persists or gets stronger, you should seek advice from a furnace maintenance service.

You can reduce the strength of the early season dust-burning smell by cleaning your HVAC system before you turn on the heat for the first time. Clean vents, furnace, and any other accessible parts of the system, or contact a furnace maintenance service for a clean and tune-up before winter begins.

A furnace air filter covered in dust and causing a harsh burning smell to come from a residential heating system in Belleville, IL.

Other Burning Smells

Other types of burning smells, such as a smell of burning plastic or an electrical burning smell, should be investigated by a furnace repair company. Furnaces that are in regular use should not produce bad smells of any kind. In particular, electrical burning smells need to be investigated right away to prevent any risk of a fire breaking out in your home.

Troubleshooting Burning Smells

One troubleshooting tip that you can follow to investigate burning smells is to check the ducts to see if there are any objects stuck inside them. Small plastic objects, such as toys, can get stuck in vents and go unnoticed until you turn on the heat and they start to melt. If you find the object that is causing the problem, you can turn off the heat, wait for it to cool down, and then remove it.

If you cannot find the source of the burning smell that your heating system is producing, then it is time to contact a furnace repair service. Morrison Plumbing provides timely and reliable furnace repair all year around to ensure that you can heat your Belleville, IL home safely and efficiently.

Get in touch with Morrison Plumbing on (618) 703-5700 to get help with burning smells. We take calls seven days a week, so don’t delay – give us a call today!

A plumbing and HVAC expert using professional tools to repair a furnace that is producing a horrible burning smell in Belleville, IL.

How to Know When Your Drains Need to Be Cleaned

Drains that need to be cleaned provide several warning signs before they become completely blocked. If you notice any of the following signs of clogged drains, contact a local plumbing service, such as Morrison Plumbing in Belleville, IL, to schedule a drain cleaning service.

A dirty kitchen sink that is draining slowly due to a clogged drain in Belleville, IL.

Slow Draining

Drains that need to be cleaned gradually start to take longer and longer to clear water from your basin, tub, or shower. If you notice that you have a clogged kitchen drain or clogged bathroom drain that is functioning much more slowly than usual, then you need to contact a plumbing service right away, before the drain becomes so badly blocked that water cannot flow down it at all. Morrison Plumbing offers a drain cleaning service that can get your drains back up to full speed.

Bad Smells From Your Drain

Clogged drains can often smell terrible due to the organic material that collects inside them and starts to rot. In the case of kitchen drains, the bad smell usually comes from scraps of food that have been washed into the drain and are sitting there decaying. Bathroom drains can smell bad due to old clumps of hair or even sewage backflow. Any time you notice a bad smell coming from your drains, it’s best to call in the plumbers to deal with it. Trying to deal with a bad drain smell on your own can be an extremely disgusting job and you might not be able to fully solve the problem without professional help.

A plumber inspecting a kitchen sink drain for a clog and providing reliable drain cleaning services in Belleville, IL.

Frequent Blockages

Are you constantly having to use a plunger on your toilet, shower drain, or clogged floor drains? Drains that block frequently are a sign that there is a major obstruction somewhere in your plumbing system, which you need to deal with sooner rather than later. Get in touch with Morrison Plumbing in Belleville, IL so we can solve the problem for you before it becomes an emergency.

Gurgling Noises From Your Drain

Clogged drains can be very noisy. If you notice your drains or toilet making a gurgling noise, then you should take that as a warning sign of a major blockage to come. Often the noise arises when water flows down another drain in your home, signaling a clog lower down in the plumbing system. Gurgling drains are annoying at best and a sign of an impending major blockage at worst, so it’s best to act now rather than trying to ignore them.

Whenever you suspect your drains might need cleaning, you can contact Morrison Plumbing to schedule a drain cleaning. We also offer a clog removal service for drains that have gone too long without cleaning and are now completely blocked. Get in touch with us any day of the week at [hls_phone_number] to find out how we can make your drains cleaner and more functional.

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