Furnace Start-Up Guide for Durham Region: Noises, Smells, and Settings
When the first cold nights hit, furnaces across Durham Region come back to life. A normal start should ramp smoothly, clear a light dusty smell in minutes, and hold steady room temps without sharp swings. If you want a quick check before winter settles in, book HVAC Zack’s furnace service.
What a normal first start looks and sounds like
Thermostat calls for heat, the inducer spins, a click from the gas valve, ignition, then the blower starts after a short delay. The tone should settle quickly and supply air warms over a few minutes. A brief change in pitch as an ECM blower finds its speed is normal.
Smells you can ignore vs act on
A light dusty odor for 10 to 20 minutes is common. Persistent burning, sharp electrical smells, or melted-plastic odors are not. If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds or anyone feels unwell, leave the home and call emergency services. If you are unsure, schedule a diagnostic and safety check.
Settings that help comfort and bills
Use small setpoint changes instead of deep nightly setbacks. For hybrid systems, confirm the outdoor lockout temperature and second stage timing. If you need a refresher on how hybrids work, see the heat pump overview and we can set a starting point and fine tune after the first real cold spell.
Airflow basics
Start the season with a fresh filter and keep returns and supplies unblocked. Do not close registers to push air elsewhere, since that raises static pressure and can reduce total capacity. For why airflow matters, skim our duct design guide.
When to call for service
Metallic scraping, loud rattles, repeated hard ignitions, short burner cycles, frequent resets, or a blower that surges are not normal. We will document the fault and give you a clear repair or replace path. Request service and HVAC Zack will be happy to come assist you.
Work with HVAC Zack
On a start-up visit we check airflow and static pressure, confirm temperature rise, verify ignition and flame signal, and program thermostat rules. You get a one page report with filter sizes and settings. We support homeowners across Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Courtice, and Bowmanville.