This one needs a licensed pro
Stop: burning smell, scorching or sparks
A burning smell, scorch marks, sparks, or a heater or wire that glows red, buzzes or crackles is an overheating warning. Keep away from it, switch off its breaker only if you can do that safely, and call a licensed electrician. If it is the boiler, call an HVAC technician or licensed heating contractor.
Why this happens
Cadet's owner's guide says that if a baseboard heater shows signs of overheating, such as glowing red or repeatedly getting unusually hot and shutting off, you should immediately turn off the circuit breaker. A CPSC report on fixed electric heaters says most fires its investigators looked at started with things that can burn, such as towels, clothing and bedding, placed too close to the heater. Missouri Extension lists odors, soot at the burner, black smoke from the chimney and surging water in a boiler as trouble signals that call for professional help.
What to do right now
- If you see smoke or flames, you smell gas or rotten eggs, or a burning smell is getting stronger, stop reading and leave now. Do not touch switches on the way out. Call 911 or your gas utility from outside.
- Keep people, pets and anything that can burn away from the heater or wire. Do not touch it and do not cover it.
- For an electric heater, at the panel open only the hinged door and switch OFF the breaker for that heater, as Cadet says to do. Skip this if you cannot tell which breaker it is, or if anything near the panel is wet or you would be standing in water. CDC says never to turn power on or off while standing in water. In that case stay away from the heater and call an electrician.
- Do not remove the heater's cover or touch its wiring. Cadet says any service other than cleaning should be done by an authorized service representative.
- Leave the breaker off, do not use the heater, and call a licensed electrician.
- If the smell or scorching is at the boiler or its pipes, do not open, touch or adjust the boiler. Slant/Fin's boiler manual says its boiler has no user serviceable parts. Call an HVAC technician or licensed heating contractor.
- If the smell is strongest at an outlet or switch, follow the outlet page linked below.
When to stop. If you see smoke or flames, smell gas, a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, or anyone feels dizzy or sick, get everyone outside and call 911 from outside.
What to tell the HVAC technician
- What you saw or smelled, where it was strongest, and when it started.
- Whether it is an electric heater, a boiler or something else, and its brand from the label.
- Which breaker you switched off, if any.
- Whether the heater had furniture, bedding, clothing or curtains near it.
- Whether the heater had been shutting itself off before this.
Build the full list: what to tell the HVAC technician.
Start this troubleshooter over
- Cadet: Electric baseboard heater owner's guide (PDF)
- CPSC: Final report on fixed-position electric heaters, 2002 (PDF)
- University of Missouri Extension: Heating system maintenance
- Slant/Fin: Victory II gas boiler user's information manual (PDF)
- CDC: Protect yourself from electrical hazards
- InspectApedia: Electric panel cover removal
- American Red Cross: What to do if a fire starts
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