Ahhh, that familiar smell of fall is in the air. No, not the smell of leaves falling then burning in your fire pits. Not the brisk clean air smell, that floats through your open windows (leaving that ragweed layer of dust on your furniture). No, I am talking about that familiar smell of burning flesh/dirt and grime that we all smell the first time we use our furnaces. Yes, I said flesh. Turns out part of that smell is the small particles of dust and shed skin cells that settle on the heating elements throughout the year. YUK! So that's why it smells like singed hair.

I have searched the internet to look for ways that we can avoid having to live with that smell the first couple of times we crank on the heat. But, the only solution that I came across was to turn the furnace on during the day with the windows open wide. This will diminish the smell when it is mixed with fresh air.

Here are some home heating safety tips I ran across from the New York City Fire Department

Space Heaters    

Pull all furniture and other combustible items at least three feet away from any heating devices. Space heaters are temporary heating devices and should only be used for a limited time each day and should never be connected to an outlet with an extension cord.

Fireplaces
Before using the fireplace for the first time in a season, make sure the flue is open. The flue is a trap door that keeps heat out in the summer and cool air from coming in when the fireplace is not in use. You can check it by looking up the chimney to see if you are able to see daylight.

Gas or Electric Furnaces
Gas or electric furnaces that have not been used for several months will most likely have a build-up of dust and dirt on heating elements. This can cause a burning smell and even a light haze of white smoke when first operated for the season. This smell and haze are not harmful, and will take only several uses before all the dust and dirt on the heating unit are burnt away. To be safe, try to run the furnace on a warm day while opening all windows so the smell can escape. If the smoke turns black and the furnace starts to rumble leave the building immediately and call the fire department by dialing 911.

Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Test your home smoke alarms at least once per week. Do this by pressing the test button on the unit.
If you do not have a carbon monoxide detector, install one. Carbon monoxide is a tasteless, odorless,          invisible gas, which is absorbed by the human body 200 times faster than oxygen. Carbon monoxide will cause people to fall into a deep sleep and cause death. Gas fireplaces, gas stoves, barbecues, gas furnaces, automobiles, propane appliances and any other device that produces a flame will produce carbon                  monoxide.

I also found some great Home Heating Tips To Save Fuel and Money at Greener Choices. They say to maximize efficiency:

• Check your heating system before you turn it on for the winter -Simply having your home’s heating system professionally inspected and tuned up annually can save fuel.

• Give your furnace a tune-up -Keeping your furnace clean, lubricated, and properly adjusted can save about 5 percent on your heating bill.

• Consider replacing an old furnace -Today’s furnaces are about 25 percent more efficient than they were in the 1980s. If your furnace is more than 15 years old and breaks down frequently, installing a new one can not only save money, but reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.