Armstrong Air
Overheating Components or Electrical Fault
Furnace is running but there is a strong burning or electrical smell in the home.
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Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
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Possible Causes
Dust burning off heat exchanger (initial use), Overheating blower motor, Loose electrical connection, Shorted wiring harness
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety: If you smell burning plastic, electrical odor, or see smoke, turn off power at the breaker immediately and do not operate the furnace until inspected.
Steps to check:
- New-season dust burn-off: A mild burning dust smell is common the first few heating cycles of the season. It should dissipate within an hour. Open windows briefly to ventilate.
- Inspect blower motor: With power off, check for discoloration or burnt smell near the blower motor. If the motor housing is extremely hot or shows signs of melting, it may be failing.
- Check wiring: Look for melted insulation or darkened terminals on the control board and contactors.
- Call technician: Electrical overheating requires professional diagnosis and replacement of damaged components.
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Repair Difficulty
Hard
4/5
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