Why Does My Electric Heater Smell Like Rotten Eggs? How To Stop It Smelling?

Winter isn’t such a bad time of the year. In fact, it is the only time of the year when people get to spend more time at home with their families. So, we certainly want our homes to smell really nice.

We all want to enjoy the coziness of the fireplace and its warm smoky scent, as well as those of candles and baked goods. These are the things that make winter worth it.

But what if your home starts smelling funny like sulphuric, rotten eggs? You do a quick snoop around and realize the smell is coming from your electric heater. What do you do then?

This is one of the troubles associated with using a furnace. Although common, it is not normal and is usually an indication that something is wrong with your furnace.

Mind you, leaving this smell unchecked will not only make staying indoors difficult but may also affect your health. When you notice this smell, you need to act fast because it could be dangerous. The rotten egg-like smell coming from your electrical furnace is often linked to electrical issues in this case.

Is It Normal for An Electric Heater to Smell?

It is certainly not normal, especially if your unit is running smoothly and in perfect condition.

As long as you’re sure there’s no gas leak somewhere else in your home, no rotten eggs lying around, no dead rodents left unattended, and you’ve traced the smell to your heater- especially when it comes on- you should begin to look at outlets in and around it or components for burning signs.

The smell may also be from burning plastic behind the outlet plate caused by an accident situation within your heater. If left unchecked, you could be playing with fire- literally.

This rotten-egg smell is more common among gas appliances when there’s a gas leak, so it may come as a surprise that your electric heater is emitting such a smell.

You should do well to call in your electrician for a quick search because something is certainly wrong with the unit.

Why Does My Electric Heater Smell Like Rotten Eggs?

It’ll be difficult to tell exactly why your heater smells like rotten eggs without getting it checked out. It is very likely that there’s a component burning within or around the unit.

It is also possible that a small rodent has crawled into your unit and died there. It is normal for small animals to seek warm environments in winter and nothing beats your heater when it comes to heat.

It is also possible that the unit’s blower motor is overheating or it could be caused by damage to electrical wiring, bringing about the smell.

In some cases, the heat exchanger may be cracked, and this is a really troubling situation that should be addressed as quickly as possible. Ensure you call in a professional to do a thorough search and find out the root cause and carry out necessary repairs.

How To Stop an Electric Heater from Smelling?

You can’t stop your electric heater from smelling if you don’t know the cause of the smell. We’ll help you address the problem using this simplified process.

1. Turn it off

This is the first thing you should do when you notice the rotten egg smell coming out of your heater. Sometimes, this smell may be temporary and you’ll only need to air out your home for a few hours, then turn it back on.

2. Remove the covering

If the smell persists after airing out your room, you’ll need to soil your hands. Open the cover to expose the components. This will give you a clear view of the insides and components.

3. Search for a burning component

If you know your way around furnaces/electric heaters, you can do a detailed scan of the different components of the unit to see if there’s any burnt part or wiring. Your keen nose should get to work here too.

4. Search for dead animal

A tiny animal may have also crawled into your heater and died there. Look out for carcasses and take them out properly. Ensure you use protective gear like hand gloves and face covering to prevent infections.

5. Call your HVAC expert

If you’re clueless about the workings of an electric heater, it’s best to call in the expert, especially if it’s a faulty component that may need repair or replacement.

How Long Does It Take a Heater to Stop Smelling?

As soon as the cause of the smell is fixed, the smell should seize. Sometimes, an odor may linger on for hours after the problem has been solved.

You’ll only need to open your windows and doors or apply an air freshener or air purifier to get rid of the odor. You may also boil some lemon rinds and allow them to simmer around the house for a while.

This is a very good way to defeat bad smells as well. Generally, your heater should stop smelling as soon as the problem is fixed, but the smell may linger in your home for a few hours.

It is also important to note that this also depends on the source of the smell. A dead rodent in your heater may leave some smell behind even after the carcass is evacuated.

That may take some hours or a few days for the smell to completely fade away. You’d need to fight it off with some remedies like boiled lemon rinds or an air purifier.

Final Words

If you’ve ever experienced it, you know how terrible it is to have such a smell in your home. It does happen, but it’s not normal and you’ll need to check what the problem is and have it fixed as quickly as possible.

If you diligently follow the tips and guidelines provided here, you should be able to get things sorted out and restore your home to its original pleasant smell.

Thankfully, the people can be resolved, but you may have to part with some money. Care for your heater, use the right plug and outlets, as well as surge protection and carry out routine cleaning to enhance its lifespan.