As temperatures drop for one of the first chilly days of the season in Florida, many residents are turning on their heaters for the first time in months. If you notice a strange burning smell coming from your heater, experts say there's a reason.
Lauren Willeford, co-owner of Dolphin Cooling and Heating in Naples, said that the odor is common.
"Let's be honest, in Florida, we don't really ever use our heat very much," Willeford said. "A house is not burning down — nothing bad is happening. There’s no need to panic or call the fire department or anything like that. It’s completely normal."
She said the smell comes from dust burning off the coils of your electrical heater after months of inactivity.
The burning smell should go away after a few minutes. However, North Collier Fire's Heather Mazurkiewicz advises residents to monitor the situation closely.
"If the smoke or scent lingers for an extended period, more than a couple of minutes, that’s something that should cause alarm," Mazurkiewicz said. "If you see visible smoke or flames coming from the unit, turn it off, evacuate, and call us immediately."
If you have any doubts about the source of the smell, don’t hesitate to contact your local fire department for help.