My husband and I just bought an older home that we are fixing up. We
have been in the home less than a month and have already ran into a
problem with a strange smell coming from the ducts in the house. The
smell seems to be very strong when the heat first kicks on and smells
like fingernail polish remover to me.

We have been painting a lot over the past few days and had new carpet
installed in several rooms. Could the smell be coming from this or is
there other problems we should be concerned about.

The furnace (we believe) is the original from when the house was built
(1979). We know we are going to need to replace it. Is it just at the
end of its life? Also, this is the first we have had oil heat, so we
aren't really sure what an oily smell would be. It has an underground
tank, could something be wrong there?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. We are new to all of this and
have no idea how to fix this.

Daisymoonz wrote:

My husband and I just bought an older home that we are fixing up. We
have been in the home less than a month and have already ran into a
problem with a strange smell coming from the ducts in the house. The
smell seems to be very strong when the heat first kicks on and smells
like fingernail polish remover to me.

We have been painting a lot over the past few days and had new carpet
installed in several rooms. Could the smell be coming from this or is
there other problems we should be concerned about.

The furnace (we believe) is the original from when the house was built
(1979). We know we are going to need to replace it. Is it just at the
end of its life? Also, this is the first we have had oil heat, so we
aren't really sure what an oily smell would be. It has an underground
tank, could something be wrong there?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. We are new to all of this and
have no idea how to fix this.

If you're using oil based paint and/or storing it near the return air
intake that could be it.

More likely would be a cracked heat exchanger in the furnace allowing
combustion gasses to get into the house air stream. This can happen with
gas furnaces as well, however it is far more noticeable with an oil one
because of the different combustion gasses.

This is a *dangerous* condition as it will allow CO into the house which
can kill you. Have the furnace inspected *immediatly*, and while you are
waiting for them to come, open a few windows and go buy a decent CO
detector.

Pete C.

a cracked heat exchanger is very serious...

I also had a similar situation....if the heat was off for a day or so ,
there would be a funny smell for a few minutes when the heat was first
turned back on..

I did not have a cracked heat exchanger...

I think the heat exchanger may have some rust and pick up moisture if
not used for a few days. Then when the heat is turned on, the moisture
is driven out and you smell it...kinda a rust smell..

if it is that, it is not serious...

but it can be hard to tell which case it is...

a CO detector is a good idea anyway...

Mark

Mark wrote:

a cracked heat exchanger is very serious...

I also had a similar situation....if the heat was off for a day or so ,
there would be a funny smell for a few minutes when the heat was first
turned back on..

I did not have a cracked heat exchanger...

I think the heat exchanger may have some rust and pick up moisture if
not used for a few days. Then when the heat is turned on, the moisture
is driven out and you smell it...kinda a rust smell..

if it is that, it is not serious...

but it can be hard to tell which case it is...

a CO detector is a good idea anyway...

Mark

The "strong nail polish remover" (acetone) description makes me think
it's an initial whiff of raw #2 at startup or oil paint fumes being
sucked in the return. Condensation / rust shouldn't smell that strong.

Pete C.

On 24 Mar 2006 05:22:35 -0800, Daisymoonz wrote:


My husband and I just bought an older home that we are fixing up. We
have been in the home less than a month and have already ran into a
problem with a strange smell coming from the ducts in the house. The
smell seems to be very strong when the heat first kicks on and smells
like fingernail polish remover to me.
....

The furnace (we believe) is the original from when the house was built
(1979). We know we are going to need to replace it. Is it just at the
end of its life? Also, this is the first we have had oil heat, so we
aren't really sure what an oily smell would be. It has an underground
tank, could something be wrong there?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. We are new to all of this and
have no idea how to fix this.

Ignore it. If anybody drops dead of CO poisoning, then check the furnace.

Or perhaps you should bring in a professional now? Isn't the wellbeing of
your family worth $60?