The usual suspects
Burning dust — normal, briefly
The first heat runs of fall bake off a summer of dust. It should clear within the hour — and not return nightly.
Hot plastic or electrical
A motor, wiring or board overheating. Turn the furnace off — this one earns the visit.
Rotten eggs — gas
That smell is added to gas so you’ll notice. Leave the house, then call PSE’s gas emergency line from outside. No switches on the way.
Musty or damp
Humidifier pads, the AC coil above the furnace, or duct moisture — a comfort-and-cleanliness fix, not an emergency.
When in doubt, book it.
A smell diagnosis takes a trained nose and a meter about 20 minutes — cheap peace of mind, priced upfront.
Book My Same-Day Visit60 seconds online · or call (206) 486-6373
Worth trying first (5 minutes, free)
- 1
First-heat-of-fall dust smell: crack a window, give it an hour.
- 2
Change the filter — a packed filter itself can smell scorched.
- 3
Electrical smell? Furnace switch OFF and book — don’t run it to "see if it stops."
Still not working? Then it’s a technician job — and the sooner it’s booked, the sooner the house is comfortable again. Book the visit →
Stop and book a pro if…
- Any gas / rotten-egg smell: out first, PSE gas line second, no switches or flames.
- CO alarm sounding: everyone out, call 911.
- Hot plastic or scorching that persists — keep it off.
- Headaches or drowsiness that lift when you leave home — get a CO check now.
Why homeowners hand it to us
- You approve the price first. Upfront quote before a single screw turns.
- Same-day service. Book in a minute, hear from a tech within 1 business hour.
- 500+ jobs done by 4.9★ rated, professional technicians.
- Fixed right, guaranteed. If it’s not right, we make it right.
Quick answers
How do I know the dust smell is "normal"?
It shows up on the first heat runs of the season, fades within an hour, and doesn’t come back nightly. A burning smell that recurs every cycle is a different animal — book it.
I smelled gas once, faintly, then it stopped. Still a problem?
Treat any gas smell as real: PSE checks these for free and fast. A faint intermittent whiff can be a small fitting leak — exactly the kind you want found on purpose rather than by accident.
Do you test for carbon monoxide?
Yes — combustion testing and CO measurement are part of a proper furnace diagnostic, and every gas-heated home should also run its own CO alarms year-round.
Done guessing?
You shouldn’t have to wonder what you’re breathing. Book the check today.
Book My Same-Day Visit60 seconds online · or call (206) 486-6373
More: all problems · heating service · AC service · 24/7 emergency