The Burning Question: What’s That Burning Smell In Your Home

A burning smell in your home is never a good sign. If ignored, your house could end up on fire. But where is the smell coming from? If there’s nothing in the oven that is burning and there is no visible smoke coming from anywhere, it may be worth considering some of these potential sources.

Worn wiring

When wiring is damaged, it can overheat and potentially lead to an electrical fire. Such damage could include loose connections or worn insulation (if insulation is melting, it may give off a fishy smell). Such wiring could be hidden in the wall, but you may still smell it through outlets and vents. This is most likely to be a problem in old houses that may have aged wiring, however poorly installed wiring in newer homes can also be a cause. If you suspect worn wiring is to blame, turn off your electricity at your home’s circuit-breaker panel or electrical breaker box and call an emergency electrician to take a look.

Overloaded outlets

Outlets are only designed to handle a certain amount of current. Plugging too many appliances into a single outlet can cause it to become overloaded, which can result in overheating and a potential burning smell (along with a buzzing sound). Be careful with multi-socket extension cords—do not plug too many high-powered appliances in at once. If an overloaded socket is producing a burning smell, unplug any electrical cords or appliances straight away and do not use that outlet until you have had it inspected by an electrician.

Faulty appliances

Sometimes wiring and components within appliances can become damaged and lead to burning. Check that the smell isn’t coming from an appliance that is in use—if it is, turn off that appliance and call someone to look at it. Most appliances will trip the circuit breaker before any burning occurs. It’s worth noting that appliances like dryers can also produce a burning smell due to a build-up of lint—this needs to be cleaned out occasionally to stop the heat from the dryer igniting it. 

Clogged HVAC filters

HVAC filters can clog up with dust and debris over time. This may cause your furnace blower motor to have to work harder, leading to overheating and potentially causing a burning smell. Check that there are no burning odors coming from your furnace. On top of cleaning HVAC filters, it’s possible that you may need to carry out furnace repairs if the blower motor is damaged. This should stop the burning smell.

Toaster crumbs

If there’s a burning smell coming from your toaster, but the bread itself is not burnt, it could be worth checking that there are no crumbs in your toaster or toaster oven from previous slices of toast. If you don’t clean out these crumbs, they could continue to be burned every time you make some toast. Some toasters come with a crumb tray that can be emptied. Regularly get rid of crumbs to prevent a toaster fire from breaking out. 

Conclusion

Any burning smell needs to be investigated straight away and fixed as soon as possible. Follow your nose and turn off any machinery or electrical sources that you think could be to blame until repairs are completed. 

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