Why it matters to you
Many all-electric Greater Houston homes rely on heat strips for their short heating season, and in heat pump homes they cover the coldest hours. A faint burning-dust smell on the first cold day is common as dust burns off the elements; a smell that persists is not.
Practical guidance
If a burning smell lingers, switch the system off at the thermostat and call for service, and call 911 if you see smoke or flame. Heat strips are high-voltage components behind the air handler panel, so testing or replacing them is licensed-technician work.