Unpleasant or unusual smells are one of the surest signs that it’s time to repair your mini-split or at least a thorough service checkup. Odor, along with strange noises or general loss of function, tells a homeowner that repairing your ductless system has become an urgent need. Know the signs, and you’ll know when to get your heat pump repaired before it really becomes an emergency. Here are three common heat pump odors you should watch out for.

1 – MILDEW SMELL

If it smells like wet clothes when you turn on your heat pump, this is definitely not normal. This is a warning sign that you may have bacteria or even mold building up inside your ductless heat pump. Heat pumps operate at temperatures that are very conducive to microorganism growth, so the problem could get much worse if you don’t do anything about it. Contact a local HVAC contractor to get this problem taken care of before the airflow spreads bacteria all over your home.

2 – BURNING OR ELECTRICITY

This is one of the worst smells you can notice from your ductless heat pump. Bacteria only requires a simple cleaning and isn’t especially dangerous, but an electrical burning smell from your heat pump means there’s a much more serious problem. Burning smells typically indicate either damaged wiring or a failing motor. Either one of these issues needs to be addressed immediately. If you let the motor die completely, it will lead to expensive repairs that might be prevented by taking action immediately. Frayed wires are even worse because they can put your home at risk of an electrical fire.

3 – SULPHUR

It is definitely not normal if your heat pump smells like rotten eggs when you turn it on. In traditional gas furnaces, this could be a gas leak that puts your house and its inhabitants in extreme danger. The good news about ductless heat pumps is that they typically run on electricity. If you already have an electric mini-split heat pump, you don’t have to worry about a gas leak. In this case, the smell may be a small animal that died in your heat pump system. While this is unpleasant, at least it isn’t dangerous. A technician can clean your ductless system and remove the source of the odor.

FIND A TECHNICIAN TO REPAIR YOUR HEAT PUMP NEAR PORTLAND

If you notice any of the odors above or any other unwanted heat pump smells, reach out to the experts at The Heat Pump Store. Our technicians have received all the factory training required to repair your specific system. Contact us today to isolate the problem and fix it.

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