Expert: Jim Barnhart - 7/13/2009

Question
We have lived in this new construction home for about 14 months.  We have central air and heat.  We live in an inland area and use our AC frequently during the warmer months.  We have changed the filter once since moving in.
In the last few days, I have come home from work and noticed the house has a strange odor...like burnt rubber, maybe.  I have determined it is coming from the AC.  We have changed the filter again and that did not solve the problem.  Any ideas?

Answer
Kirsten,
I don't know what type of "central air and heat" You have?
There are gas furnaces, electric furnaces, heat pumps, electric heat strips, split or self contained AC units etc.
For the most part air from the house sucks in one end of the unit and blows out the other, I don't know of anything that might produce a burnt rubber smell and the unit still be operable?
Maybe some foreign object has gotten in?
I had a case one time where the people swore that an AC unit I installed was producing a similar odor like you describe, the cause turned out to be a plastic handle knife that fell down on the heating element of there dish washer.