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TVs can do a lot for us, and each day, new models are released that come packed with useful and attractive features. However, a burning plastic smell isn’t something you want coming from your new TV.
Understandably, when you notice a burned plastic smell coming from your TV, you feel worried. But luckily, you’ve come to the right place for answers.
Below, I’ve prepared an article covering the most common reasons why your TV smells like burning plastic and simple ways to address each one. Here’s a quick recap:
| Why Your TV Smells Like Burned Plastic | What to Do |
|---|---|
| The TV is new. New TVs often release an initial burning odor | Wait 3 days for the smell to pass |
| Poor ventilation | Remove clutter |
| The TV is old. There is an unknown problem | Turn the TV off |
| The TV has a short circuit | Turn the TV off |
| The TV is overheating | Adjust the settings |
| The TV is dusty | Dust the TV |
While the table above is useful, it doesn’t paint the full picture. A burning smell on your TV could be normal or something very dangerous.
Read on to get your TV back to normal!
Why trust us? This article was written by Craig Anderson and Austin Sharman.
Craig has helped thousands of other homeowners repair their appliances since 2016.
Solving A Plastic-Smelling Television
Noticing your TV smells like burning plastic can raise the hairs on the back of your neck very quickly, as the possibility of it burning becomes very real.
However, as crazy as it sounds, not all burning smells coming from your TV warrant panic. Here are some things I strongly recommend you consider before calling the Fire Department.
#1 Your TV Is New
If your TV is brand new and smells like burning plastic, don’t call your manufacturer just yet, as it could be normal.
The first question you should ask yourself when your TV smells like burning plastic is: did you remove all the plastic coatings?
The plastic “peels” that protect the TV from cosmetic damage during shipping are often left on electronics.
The peels can be dangerous, and many manufacturers have resorted to placing fire hazed warnings on them.
Plastic peels are often the cause of a TV that smells like burning plastic, as the adhesive breaks down from the heat.
Why else can a new TV smell?
If your TV is new and smells like burning plastic, it’s likely to give off a smell during the first few days of use. There are a couple of other reasons why new televisions give off an unpleasant burning smell:
- TVs are made up of parts with plastic coatings. The coatings can produce a smell the first time they warm up. Electronics contain VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that smell as they dissipate into the air the first time you use them. In most cases, the smell will disappear after a few days and not return.
- The TV doesn’t have enough room to breathe. The heat of the TV against your furniture can damage it and cause a burned plastic smell. My usual advice is to give your TV at least 3-5 inches of breathing room around it.
I’ve found that not all new TVs smell like burned plastic, but if yours does, at least you know why. Here are all the possible scenarios and my recommendations for each one.
| Scenario | What You Should Do | What You Should Do If the Smell Persists |
|---|---|---|
| You have a new TV | The burning smell coming from a new TV set is normal. The TV may smell for the first few days you use it. | If the smell persists for more than a few days, you should stop using the TV and contact the store you bought it from. This may be a sign of a dud TV – don’t get stuck with it! |
| If the smell persists for more than a few days, you should stop using the TV and contact the store you bought it from. This may be a sign of a dud TV – don’t get stuck with it! | Make room for the TV to ventilate properly. You can add breathing room by trying the following. – Remove some of your furniture away from it – Ensure that the fan is not obstructed – Is your TV fixed to a wall? Then make sure there is a small gap between the wall and the TV for air to flow. | If the smell continues even when the TV has enough ventilation room, you should stop using it. Then call a technician. There may be a larger fault at hand. |
#2 Your TV Is Old
I find that if your TV is older than 5 years, it’s somewhat common to have it smell like burning plastic while in use.
Why do older TVs smell?
If your TV is on the older side, it can give off odors for many reasons:
- The electronics in the TV are short-circuiting. During a short circuit, the television will dissipate a strong odor. The odor is not harmful.
- The TV is overheating. If your TV overheats, it can begin to release a burned plastic smell (especially true for older models). Older TVs aren’t great at dissipating heat or saving power.
- The TV is dusty. Your television may have collected dust on the outside and inside. When the electrical components on the inside of the TV heat up, they also heat up the dust, which can cause a musty, burning smell.
- The TV doesn’t have enough room to breathe.
- There’s a major problem with the TV, likely with the capacitors.
Here are some possible scenarios that can explain why your old TV smells like burning plastic or funky in general and what you can do about it:
| Scenario | What You Should Do | What You Should Do If the Smell Persists |
|---|---|---|
| The electronics in the TV short circuit (you may hear a loud pop followed by a burning smell – indicating a capacitor has blown) | Unplug the TV immediately. Call a technician. | Unplug the TV immediately. Call a technician. |
| The TV overheats | If your TV is overheating, then it could be because it is working too hard. Changing some of its settings may help the TV to cool down. Try doing the following: – Lower the video resolution. To lower the resolution, go to “Menu”, “Settings,” then “Picture Settings”. Take the video resolution down one setting. – Lower the brightness. To lower the brightness, go to “Menu”, “Settings”, and “Picture Settings”. Take the brightness down to 80%. – Allow the TV to run for a little while to see if the problem has improved | Turn the TV off for a while after changing the settings. If the TV still smells after you have adjusted the settings, unplug it and call a technician. There could be an underlying fault with it. |
| The TV is dusty | Your TV may smell like burning because it is dusty. You should remove the dust from the outside and the inside of the unit. To clean your TV, do the following. – Unplug the television. Never spray chemicals directly onto the TV. – Use a duster to remove the dust from outside the TV – Use compressed air to spray the dust out of the inside of the unit as you would from a computer (if the TV has a fan, hold it still) (For more tips on cleaning your TV screen, check out this video.) | If the TV still smells after it has been cleaned, unplug it immediately and call a technician. There could be a more serious problem with it. |
| If your TV is overheating, then it could be because it is working too hard. Changing some of its settings may help the TV to cool down. Try doing the following – Lower the video resolution. To lower the resolution, go to “Menu”, “Settings,” then “Picture Settings”. Take the video resolution down one setting. – Lower the brightness. To lower the brightness, go to “Menu”, “Settings”, and “Picture Settings”. Take the brightness down to 80%. – Allow the TV to run for a little while to see if the problem has improved | Make room for the TV to ventilate properly. You can add breathing room by trying the following. – Remove some of the furniture away from it – Ensure that the fan is not obstructed – Is your TV fixed to a wall? Then make sure there is a small gap between the wall and the TV for air to flow. | If the smell continues even when the TV has enough ventilation room, you should stop using it. Then call a technician. There may be a larger fault at hand. |
| There is a major problem with the TV | The TV doesn’t have enough room to ventilate | Unplug the television and call a technician. |
Addressing a TV’s Burning Plastic Smell
If your TV starts to smell like burned plastic, it’s understandable that you feel alarmed. But as you’ve seen in this article, if you have a new TV, the smell’s likely not something you need to worry about.
If this article has helped you, why not check out some of our other articles and free guides below? On the site, you’ll find all sorts of solutions for everyday appliance issues, such as an LG TV that keeps turning off or an oven that’s leaking grease.
Have a great day!
-Craig.
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