Heating oil is used by many American homeowners to fuel their furnaces. It is highly efficient to use without burning a hole in your wallet. It helps ensure that you and your family are safe and warm during the cold winter months. However, you might be worried when you detect the distinct heating oil smell around your home. An excellent containment system in your home should prevent the smell in the first place smell. Even if you happen to smell it, the odor should dissipate soon. In the situation that it persists, call a certified and licensed technician from PFO Heating & Air Conditioning to help you find the cause. Our expert technicians can resolve it right away.
Is It Normal to Smell Heating Oil?
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A heating oil smell should not linger inside your home. However, there are instances where this can happen. It can be due to a small issue wherein the smell will disappear quickly. It can also be because of something more severe, causing the smell to persist. Listed below are a few reasons that cause this problem:
Oil Tank Was Refilled Recently
When you just got your oil tank refilled, it isn’t unusual that you catch a whiff of oil in the air for some time. The faint smell should only take a couple of days to disappear on its own. However, if it takes more than that, then it could be that the delivery crew spilled some oil on the ground. If this is the cause, you can try using an absorbent material to prevent further spread. Take away any damaged materials and then use soap and water to scrub the surface clean.
PFO Heating & Air Conditioning has the most dependable and safest heating oil deliveries in the area. We guarantee that all our delivery services will be done without any worries. Call us today for all your heating oil delivery concerns.
Initial Furnace Use
Heating systems are not in use during the hot months. They are only put in use again at the start of the cold season. Hence, it is perfectly normal for you to smell oil when you switch your furnace on again after being idle for so long. The smell should be fleeting, so there is no reason to worry.
Furnace Filter Blockage
A clogged furnace filter can be another reason for the oil smell. Keep in mind that replacing your HVAC air filter should be done at least once every two to three months. Examine your oil furnace filter if it is what is causing the issue. If the smell persists even after you changed it, then your furnace might be dealing with another problem.
An Underlying Furnace Problem
An underlying issue like inefficiency can be what is causing the smell of oil to circulate throughout your home. The oil might have failed to combust entirely, and the oil dregs might be causing the odor to persist. You should also check the oil burner to see if there are any cracks. If there are cracks, fumes can escape through these. Heat exchanger failure can also be another cause. Whatever it might be, an expert HVAC technician can help you find the root cause and solve it immediately. Rest assured that the HVAC professionals from PFO Heating & Air Conditioning have the knowledge, skills, and qualifications to help you.
Is An Oil Smell Dangerous?
As a homeowner, it is only natural for you to be concerned about the smell and how it could impact your health. This is especially an issue for homes that have their oil tanks installed in enclosed spaces, such as their basements. Fortunately, heating oil fumes are far less toxic than natural gas fumes. Therefore, inhaling low concentrations is not as harmful. However, it is always best that fumes are avoided at all costs. Furthermore, oil is also stable in that there is no need to worry about explosions at all.
Any symptoms you have from short-term exposure should disappear as soon as the oil smell is eliminated. Whereas, you should make sure that you are not exposed to fumes for long as it can have severe health repercussions. If you notice the lingering smell of oil in your home, call an HVAC technician immediately. Ignoring it can cause the issue to escalate into a more significant problem.
What To Do If You Smell Heating Oil
Once you notice the smell of heating oil permeating around your home, go over the list mentioned above, and do the recommended actions. Make sure to ventilate your home so that the smell can dissipate quickly. Do this by opening windows. Keep children and pets out of the contaminated area so as not to compromise their health.
These are just a few basic steps to mitigate minor issues. If you find that you are dealing with more than you can handle, contact an expert to help you. There are times when your heating equipment is experiencing more than what is perceived by your eyes and nose. A technician is your best bet in determining and resolving the problem as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Our sense of smell can warn us about the dangers that we might not hear or see. This way, the problem is detected and solved early on. It prevents the issue from escalating into something irreparable or potentially dangerous. Therefore, you shouldn’t neglect the smell of heating oil once you catch a whiff of it. Find the cause immediately, as this is not normal. Common causes are starting your furnace after a long period of not being used and a spill during oil delivery. An HVAC expert should be able to help you pinpoint the cause and fix it immediately.
Call PFO Heating & Air Conditioning For Superior Home Comfort Solutions
When you need high-quality heating oil and HVAC services in Mercer County, NJ, call PFO Heating & Air Conditioning. We hire only the best licensed and NATE certified technicians who can conduct superior furnace tune-ups, boiler repairs, mini-split installations, and more. All our friendly techs are equipped with the right tools, extensive knowledge, and years of experience to ensure that all services are done promptly and correctly.
PFO Heating & Air Conditioning offers affordable heating and cooling service prices in the area. We guarantee that our experts can provide you with the most advanced solutions to ensure that all your home comfort needs are met. All of our services are backed with a guarantee to ensure your satisfaction.
Our company also offers fast and affordable fuel oil deliveries so that you are safe and warm all winter long. We have various oil delivery plans and financing options to meet your needs. Schedule an appointment by giving one of the representatives from PFO Heating & Air Conditioning a call. We offer no-obligation, in-home consultations.
Click here to contact us now or call us at (800) 253-9001 to find out more!