With the colder weather our furnace has started coming on and running this year. Recently, while I was in our basement back room where the water heater, softener, and furnace are located, I noticed a faint burning smell. I thought that maybe it was the furnace going through its paces as it started running for the first time in a while. Our home is 16 years old.
Then I noticed something: around the floor joist near the end of the ducting that comes from the furnace and runs along the basement ceiling, I noticed small burn marks. They weren't hot and didn't smell like something on fire, but they were there. How long they've been there I can't exactly say. They were only in this area, and nowhere else along the ducting. You can see that at some point fire burned through the goop used to seal the two joists. The attached picture shows the burns. I'm investigating, but who would I call to remediate/investigate the issue, professionally? An HVAC person, fire remediation company, a contractor?
Any advice, experiences, or assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Then I noticed something: around the floor joist near the end of the ducting that comes from the furnace and runs along the basement ceiling, I noticed small burn marks. They weren't hot and didn't smell like something on fire, but they were there. How long they've been there I can't exactly say. They were only in this area, and nowhere else along the ducting. You can see that at some point fire burned through the goop used to seal the two joists. The attached picture shows the burns. I'm investigating, but who would I call to remediate/investigate the issue, professionally? An HVAC person, fire remediation company, a contractor?
Any advice, experiences, or assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!