Furnace Smells Like Gas When Running? (Know the Danger Signs)

It can be scary at first when your furnace smells like gas when running. The smell of the mercaptan in natural gas is disconcerting and can reasonably worry any homeowner. So, why does your furnace smell like gas when running, and should you be concerned?

It is normal for a furnace to smell like gas when running, especially if it just turned on. Furnaces typically smell like gas when you turn them on for the first time of the season during autumn or winter. You should only worry if your house smells strongly like gas without a reasonable explanation which could indicate a gas leak.

You can buy a natural gas detector that can indicate when natural gas levels are abnormal if you are worried. Otherwise, the gas smell is typically due to dust that burns off within a furnace when you run it. Follow along as we explore the factors that affect why your furnace smells like gas when running.

It is normal if your furnace smells like gas when running, and you don’t need to worry. A furnace can often smell like gas when running, especially shortly after it turns on. The gas smell generally sticks close to the furnace where it is strongest.

You only need to worry about a gas smell if it is frequent, strong, and spreads throughout the entire house. However, you will likely always smell some level of gas emissions when your furnace kicks on for the day or the beginning of the season.

Natural gas itself does not have an odor, so manufacturers add mercaptan so that natural gas is detectable. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to know that there is natural gas in the air which is a major fire hazard.

A furnace smells like gas when running generally right after you start it up if at all. Dust settles within a furnace throughout the day and season, and it can react with the gas on startup. This is especially common when you start to run the furnace at the beginning of fall or winter.

You will generally notice a gas smell when you run your furnace for the first time of the season. Impurities and dust that accumulate within the furnace while it is dormant typically burn up when you begin to use it for the year.

Gas likes are the worst-case scenario if your furnace smells like gas when running. Professionals bury gas lines beneath the ground in your yard typically. These gas lines can crack or burst during yard maintenance and cause a leak.

You can tell that a gas line beneath your soil is leaking if you notice small patches of yellow or brown grass above it. Gas lines can also leak closer to the furnace itself, and you will smell it when you run the furnace. Call 911 if you notice a damaged gas line or gas leak because your home and yard are both at risk.

Related Questions

Can a Gas Furnace Explode?

Technically speaking, it is possible for your gas furnace to catch on fire and even potentially explode. That said, it is a highly unlikely event. Most modern furnaces have safety measures built in to shut off when it detects potential safety issues.With older units, there could be concerns of explosion in the event of a gas leak, but even those aren’t likely. Update your furnace and provide proper preventative maintenance and you likely won’t have anything to concern yourself with.

How Can I Tell if My Furnace is Dying?

While a gas leak is certainly cause for concern, it could be indicative of a larger issue. That larger issue could mean that your furnace is potentially dying. There are several warning signs that can tip you off but depending on the condition of your furnace, you may have to replace the entire thing.