It could be ozone or something biological.

Are there any electronic devices in the room which could be malfunctioning?

Is the bedroom by any chance the closest room to the furnace? If yes, does the furnace have an electronic air cleaner? (EAC stuck on when furnace isn't running can produce high levels of ozone)

 

Are there any electronic devices in the room which could be malfunctioning?

Is the bedroom by any chance the closest room to the furnace? If yes, does the furnace have an electronic air cleaner?


Re: devices malfunctioning- I don't think so- there is a ceiling fan, clock radio, baby monitor receiver, and the wireless network camera, but all appear to be working correctly and the smell in the room dissipated once the heat was turned off, which is why I concluded it was something to do with the heater.

The unit itself (closet unit) is in the upstairs hallway, and all bedrooms upstairs are pretty close to it, but my son's room is the furthest away by a couple of feet. I am *relatively* sure it does not have an electronic air cleaner.

 

We have been running our heater occasionally over the last couple of weeks with no problems (electric heater, central, home and heater are 5 years old)

When you say "electric heater", do you mean a heat pump with electric resistance strips as auxiliary heat? No gas or oil furnace, correct?

 

I'm attempting to answer without highlighting my ignorance of HVAC...
When I say electric, I use the term only to say "not gas or kerosene"- beyond that I am at a loss.

Thanks for helping me sort this out. I called an HVAC place, but it will be a few days until they can get out and on the phone they were telling me it's probably just a bad smell and not something mechanical. Doesn't give me peace of mind though until someone looks at it.

 

If it was comming from the furnace it would smell everywhere. I would bet there is something in the duct or something in that room that is the source of the smell. I have seen everything from electronics starting to burn up, moldy dirt in plant pots to dead things blamed on a stinky hvac unit. Do you have pests in your house? Have you checked?

If you can get to the vent, get up close and personal with it and smell the air comming out of the vent and look down as far as you can. Your child could have thrown something down there, I know I did when I was really young. (if the vent is on the floor).

 

do u have a humidifier installed on your hvac equipment? if so it could be a humidifier pad going really bad...sort of a musty smell?

 

ran into similar a few years back

something possibly overheating

what did you do to turn it off?


what kind of switches are on the t-stat???

when they get there...........if the breaker is in the air handler.........have them check it really close