If you turn on the heater in a skyrise and then smell burnt plastic and see smoke what can cause that?

Question

Our wing was freezing so one of the guys turned up the temp. It turned on the heater. At first it sounded like a microwave and then we heard a pop like something thudded against the ceiling tiles. Then we some smoke come out of the vents and smelled burned plastic. The smoke stopped and the guy checked the "ballast", any other ideas? It didn't seem to happen again when we turned the heater on again but we couldn't really feel heat.

Answer 1

Sounds like you burnt the blower motor. Better call for some help.

Answer 2

You broke it before the heating preventative maintenance had even been performed.It's still summer.

Answer 3

Safety First Please. Is it your property, anytime you have smoke there is the possibility you may have flames real soon,  Turn off the circuit breaker to that unit until you can get certified/quality service etc. If as you say no heat comes out of the unit, you have to take that as an indication that something did in fact short itself. Get help and/or get out and away.