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Why does my AC smell like something is burning?
I turned the air conditioning on in my house today for the first time this year. And there’s a very strong smell like something is burning. What would cause that? Should I be worried?
Patrick Price · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
There are several things that could be causing the burning smell in your AC system—some of them are indeed dangerous and cause for concern, while others are harmless. Most commonly, a burning smell in an AC system is caused by:
- Dust burning off after long periods of disuse
- A clogged air filter
- A broker capacitor
- An overheating motor
- Burning electrical components
Issues like burning dust are harmless and will resolve themselves. Others like a clogged filter just require a quick fix (replacing the filter) to sort the issue out. Still others, such as an overheating motor or a broken capacitor are serious—but mostly pose a threat to the AC system itself, not you or your home. Then there are problems like burning electronics—which release toxic fumes, and can quickly lead to widespread house fires.
To be safe, you should shut off your AC immediately, and have a professional inspect the system as soon as possible. In the meantime, you can save some extra money to pay for any required repairs by using
Jerry
—the secure insurance app
—to reduce the cost of your homeowners insurance
in a matter of minutes! View full answer
- Gregory R.
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