A bit tech smell from new furnace

[caslon]

I had a new ac/furnace installed.

Carrier Slimline AC/ and Performance 80 furnace.

Small condo...hallway closet.

Fired up the furnace just now.

Is it that unusual to get a kinda tech smell for awhile firing up a new furnace?
How long should that last?

It's not toxic or anything smelling. It's a bit noticeable tho.

Will that go away? I did away with all my quiet attempts at lining closet.
It's just the unit now.

I never smelled anything smell from the 20 yr. unit I replaced, then again it had 20 years.

This Carrier Performance Series 80 is brand new. Like I said...the smell of hot air is not super noticable..but kind of is.

In a small condo hallway closet, it may take awhile?

[mike robinson]

If the furnace is new the factory has a thin coat of oill on the heat exchanger to product it from rust this should burn off in time and be just fine.

[caslon]

It's brand new. The AC smell is somewhat noticable.
I called out a tech who installed the unit.

He described the smell as hot air. Hot air smells different.

If worse comes to worse, as a Carrier distributor/installer, he told they have the clout to have a Carrier rep come to my place and check it out.

[skippedover]

You should not need a rep at this early stage in the game. I'll assume the installing company did a Manual 'J' heat calculation???? Or was this just a cheapest bid job???

The installing company should do a heat rise check to be sure the furnace is not running on the high limit. When it runs, does the flame go out mid-cycle with the blower still running? Can you tell when that happens? Maybe not without a 'tuned' ear but again, the installing company should be running all kinds of commissioning numbers to sure the size of the furnace is correct and that it's running within the manufacturer's specifications. Anything less is unacceptable. Any new furnace, for the first cycle or even two cycles, will emit a small amount of light smoke and smell as the manufacturing oils are burned off. We always advise the client of that issue and have them open their windows before we light off the furnace. However, if the smell is longer than the first cycle or two, then more investigation is necessary.

[t527ed]

is this smell different from the "noxious fiberglass smell" from a month ago??
or still chasing the same ghost?

[caslon]

Hehehe.

I went overboard and ripped out anything remotely related to my "silenceing"
attempts. I even ripped out the plenum board they lined the closet with.

The furnace is modern in that it fires up both burners...god knows what this
Carrier Performance 80 would sound like if it was in cold weather when it kicks into
"high" mode. That WOULD be noisy I imagine.

I too wondered why it sounds like two mini jet engines going off in my
furnace closet, but I assume its set to default specs.
I have no reason to doubt that.

I may open up the windows and run the furnace for awhile.
Let it burn off any residual oil?

I can call back my installers, they are pretty good at not considering me a pain in the neck.

Altho I may be one here.

[t527ed]

open the windows and let it burn off for a while.

did you try shutting off the eac to make sure its not an ozone odor?

have you been doing any other painting or remodeling?

different paints and solvents can make some funky odors after being heated through a furnace.

polyurethane is one that gets real strong even going through my direct vent furnace.

[caslon]

Check on shutting off the EAC and removed the metal filters.

I plan on opening my windows and running the heater for a few hours.

It was a pretty good install, tho they did no manual J and sizing up ductwork for my AC. You'd be surprised how many "authorized Carrier" installers size it up with their eyes. With a small 887 sq. ft. condo, I can forgive them for that.

But yes..if the smell persists, my installer said he will call out a Carrier rep to size up the situation.

[MLeonhardt]

[QUOTE=caslon;2013613]I had a new ac/furnace installed.


It's not toxic or anything smelling. It's a bit noticeable tho.:)


I would call the installer back to the job. I will bet that he hung his sweat drenched Shorts in the plenium to dry while testing the blower. :mad:

[caslon]

It's not that...he's trained (as all are) to explain away all but the obvious.
Even the best of companies have employees like that.

Windows open, fan blowing in cool fresh air, heater on for 3 hours+

It may actually take 6 hours or so over two days, I imagine.

If the smell persists...ya...call the installer and if that doesn't yield an
explanation...have them call in a Carrier rep.

Which to say....is not so bad of this authorized Carrier installer company and the
dude said he will report on that and left open as possibilty that next step.

BTW, I bought wholesale a quantity of post filters for my Honeywell EAC.
It didn't slow down the air flow one bit (not that I could tell).
By that I mean...if you slow down the airflow, you can audibley hear the unit straining.
Those post filters (2 needed) are working just fine, thanks to my huge return intake
directly under the closet.

[caslon]

It's not that...he's trained (as all are) to explain away all but the obvious.
Even the best of companies have employees like that.

Windows open, fan blowing in cool fresh air, heater on for 3 hours+

I'm gonna do that.

It may actually take 6 hours or so over two days, I imagine.

If the smell persists...ya...call the installer and if that doesn't yield an
explanation...have them call in a Carrier rep.

Which to say....is not so bad of this authorized Carrier installer company and the
dude said he will report on that and left open as possibilty that next step.

BTW, I bought wholesale a quantity of post filters for my Honeywell EAC.
It didn't slow down the air flow one bit (not that I could tell).
By that I mean...if you slow down the airflow, you can audibley hear the unit straining.
Those post filters (2 needed) are working just fine, thanks to my huge return intake
directly under the closet.

BTW guys...thanks for all your replies. I yanked out $275+ of "silenceing" material. Money down the drain. Did it quiet your condo unit...you bet.
Did it "smell?" yep. That's one thing those net sites don't tell you about their products.