Bad smells and what they tell you

If you smell burning plastic you may have overheated wiring. It could be in an appliance or it could be in your heating ventilation system. Either way, take action.

“If you also see any smoke or sparks, leave the house and call 911. Otherwise, shut off the appropriate circuit breaker and contact an electrician ASAP,” says Consumer Reports.

The smell of dirty socks may signal bacteria in the HVAC coils, while an odor of rotten eggs may indicate a natural gas leak, which could lead to an explosion, the magazine said.

More on smells

ttps://www.consumerreports.org/odor-control-removal/home-odors-you-should-never-ignore-a1015087055/

Lighthouse HVAC, based in Brooklyn, maintains a work station in Long Island so technicians can answer calls there as quickly as possible.