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We have a heat pump system for forced air heat with oil burner for backup when the heat pump can’t keep up. We’re happy with the system, but we get a momentary strange odor, but only under just the right circumstances.
If the heat pump has been running for a while and it finds it is not keeping up because it’s just too cold outside, then the heat pump stops and the oil burner kicks in. No problem there; that’s what it’s supposed to do. But there is a definite odor that I think is from the heat pump working fluid. I suspect that there is a tiny leak somewhere in the furnace heat exchanger and the stuff gets driven off or burned off when the oil comes on. However, the system has been going for four years now and at each regular check-up the working fluid has not needed replenishing.
The odor is not there if the heat pump works by itself or in the real cold weather when the oil is used exclusively; it’s only when the oil comes on just after the heat pump has been working.
What do you suppose it is, and should I worry about it?
Jay
Replies
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We have a heat pump system for forced air heat with oil burner for backup when the heat pump can't keep up. We're happy with the system, but we get a momentary strange odor, but only under just the right circumstances.
If the heat pump has been running for a while and it finds it is not keeping up because it's just too cold outside, then the heat pump stops and the oil burner kicks in. No problem there; that's what it's supposed to do. But there is a definite odor that I think is from the heat pump working fluid. I suspect that there is a tiny leak somewhere in the furnace heat exchanger and the stuff gets driven off or burned off when the oil comes on. However, the system has been going for four years now and at each regular check-up the working fluid has not needed replenishing.
The odor is not there if the heat pump works by itself or in the real cold weather when the oil is used exclusively; it's only when the oil comes on just after the heat pump has been working.
What do you suppose it is, and should I worry about it?
Jay