When a furnace starts up for the first time in a season, a brief dusty smell can happen as accumulated dust warms on components. It should fade fairly quickly. If the odor persists, grows stronger, or is unusual for your system, turn the equipment off if it is safe to do so and have it checked.
A sharp electrical or burning-plastic smell, smoke, scorching, repeated breaker trips, or unusual grinding should not be treated as routine. Stop using the system and contact a qualified HVAC professional. If you smell gas or suspect a fuel leak, leave the building without operating switches or creating a flame, then call your gas utility or emergency services from a safe location.
A carbon-monoxide alarm is an emergency: get everyone outside to fresh air and call emergency services. Do not re-enter until authorities say it is safe. Carbon monoxide cannot be reliably detected by smell, so working CO alarms are important.
For ordinary seasonal preparation, check that the filter is correctly installed, keep supply and return vents unobstructed, and make sure the thermostat is set as intended. Never remove panels or bypass safety controls to investigate a problem. If the furnace repeatedly shuts down, does not heat normally, or makes a new noise, arrange service rather than repeatedly resetting it.
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