Why Does My House Smell Like Heating Oil
It’s one of those things that can keep homeowners up at night. What do I do if there is an oil smell in the house and is it dangerous? Is this a real danger and something you need to be concerned about? And what is the solution?
Is the Heating Oil Smell in Your House Normal?
If there’s a leak from your oil tank, it could lead to an overpowering scent of heating oil in your household. If you have a portable oil heating system, there’s a good chance it got knocked over somehow and you need to clean it up. Survey the area surrounding your tank for any oil remnants and reach out to your heating oil supplier or an HVAC professional to ascertain whether repairs or a replacement are needed.
Some odors can be mild and temporary, while others might linger. Knowing the different causes of oil smells is essential in determining if there is danger. Here are some common oil smells and their causes:
- Tank refill: Refilling your oil tank can create an oil smell. This odor is a natural, normal reaction to refilling your tank and often goes away after a few days.
- Clogged filters: When dust and particles build up in your furnace filter, it can become blocked, leading to a pungent heating oil smell. You can get this smell out of your house by cleaning or changing your air filter.
- First heating system use: A heating oil smell is normal when turning on your heating system for the first time. When dormant, your heating system can gather dust, debris and other particles, causing an oil smell when you turn it on.
Sometimes, an oil odor is caused by a more concerning factor and can require immediate attention:
- Heating system wear: Improperly maintained or damaged heating system parts can create a burning oil smell, which can linger and become a safety hazard without proper maintenance or repairs.
- Oil tank leak: A leak in your tank can cause a persistent oil odor and be a safety concern. A professional can inspect your oil tank for leaks and repair the system, removing smells and safety hazards.
What Does Heating Oil Smell Like?
Heating oil can smell like rotten eggs or gasoline. Manufacturers add the smell to natural gas to warn you of a possible carbon monoxide leak. Heating oil might also have a burnt oil smell, which is less common and can indicate heating system wear, leaks or damage.
How to Get Rid of the Heating Oil Smell in Your House
You can use many methods like air fresheners or powder detergents to eliminate an oil smell. An oil smell can remain long after you clean a spill or fix your heating tank. While ventilation can help to alleviate the odor, you can try some other home remedies to get rid of any stagnate oil smells:
- Air fresheners: Spray air fresheners throughout your home to eliminate the odor. Using a robust scented air freshener can work well to drown out smell.
- Baking soda: Pour baking soda or a fragranced powder detergent over spills to remove odors.
- Vinegar: If your oil odor comes from burnt or worn furnace components, placing the vinegar near the furnace daily can help soak up burnt odors and residues.
How to Clean up a Heating Oil Spill
Getting professional help and preventing the spread of spills and leaks are some of the best ways to clean an oil spill. Oil spills and leaks can cause safety hazards and costly damage. It can affect indoor air quality, soak into carpets or flooring or cause slips. Your pets or family members can also come into contact with oil from spills, which can be harmful.
Professionals can accurately inspect and clean spills depending on their size and severity. Here are some ways you can clean and prevent an oil leak or spill from spreading before getting professional help:
- Keep family members and children clear from spills and leaks.
- Mitigate fire hazards by switching off and unplugging plug points, removing flammable materials and avoiding smoking indoors.
- Ventilate your home by opening doors and windows.
- Isolate the smell to the specific area by closing doors to other rooms.
- Call your oil provider and get a professional to diagnose the leak, clean the spill and fix the tank.
How Dangerous Is an Oil Leak?
An oil leak isn’t nearly as dangerous as a gas leak. However, it can ruin your heating system and the wood or other material around the system. An oil leak can also cause some health side effects like:
- Skin irritation
- Dizziness and headaches
- Coughing and lung issues
- Fatigue and difficulty concentrating
- Eye, nose and throat allergies or irritations
While oil spills might not be as catastrophic as the potential effects of a gas leak, such as carbon monoxide poisoning or an explosion, cleaning them up and removing odors is vital for preventing long-term health issues like lung and heart problems.
Partner With Marstellar Oil for Safe and Dependable Home Oil Heating
When considering the consequences of an oil leak vs. a gas leak, we at Marstellar Oil highly recommend you use heating oil as the fuel that heats your home. If you are in Central PA, we are happy to provide it.
For over 20 years, Marstellar Oil has been delivering safe, affordable heating oil to homes throughout the Central PA area. We can’t promise that your oil boiler will never leak oil, but if it does, it won’t be because of the quality of our oil.
We take great pains to ensure you get the highest quality oil possible so you can enjoy safe home heating all winter for years to come. To learn more or place an order, contact Marstellar Oil today.
