Furnace fumes

AK

Hi. I've got an oil burning furnace in the basement. Lately, I've noticed that I have been smelling oil fumes whenever I first start going down the stairs into the basement. When I get to the bottom, it goes away.

I recently installed an attic gable fan and its created a bit of negative pressure in the house. Enough so that these nasty fumes in the basement stairwell are now much stronger and pulled into the main living space.

Is the furnace the problem or is something wrong with the chimney (never had it cleaned). Thanks for all your help!

John@Reliable_9

Could be both!

If chimney base or heat exchanger is blocked it could cause your smell. Best advise is to have a service co check it out ASAP as oil burner is producing CO in your home. Hope this helps John@Reliable

John@Reliable_9

Could be both!

If chimney base or heat exchanger is blocked it could cause your smell. Best advise is to have a service co check it out ASAP as oil burner is producing CO in your home. Hope this helps John@Reliable

Weezbo

*~/:) ..I too notice it when i first start walking down to the

Basement ...and i am not even there the further down the stairs i go the less i notice it ...well ok would you want to be a dollar ahead of the game? call some one to clean the stack and boiler and fine tune it with some instruments:) when done, go back while it is running and see if you can hear the difference....i belive i have heard that tune somewhere..... new day ...different dollar,..the next best opportunity is get a blower door test done on your home,....and determine where the zero pressure point is in your home, seal against the stack effect and correctly ventilate your home and boiler room.some locations vary so, the third way to save a dollar would be to have someone over to see about the best humidity control for the ventilation,at that time you might want to discuss the location of a co detector to protect your family and property...just some thoughts...plenty others one being ,l vent and a burner with an electric or hydraulic shutter...

lchmb

also

Check the issue with negative pressure. If the fan's are pulling enough they could be using the chimney for make up air. It may be necessary to add make up air (make up air can or air boot for the furnace) to the cellar to overcome this....

Firedragon_4

Both,

better get this job checked by a PRO today!

If you end up sooting up the house at this point it's your fault and insurer can walk away, FACT!

JeffD

Firedragon

is right on the money. Get a good reputable company to come in and check this out. Soot is not easy to clean up, and can be quite costly. A properly running oil system will not produce any odor within your home, period.

Mitch_4

LIkely

The installation and operation of the attic fan, creating a negative pressure in your house (as YOU said) is causing a downdraft condition in your chimney as the air is entering by the path of least resistance.

Get a pro, you DO NOT want to "play" with a potentially DEADLY situation.

Mitch