Gqf brooder smells like something is burning when heating element is turned on

[Sneakyturtle]

I have a 2 year old gqf brooder. Overall, I really like it because it’s easy to clean and low maintenance. However, I haven’t been able to figure out how to clean around the heating element because I don’t think you can take the cage around it off, so there is dust around the heating element. Now whenever I turn on the heat, it smells like something is burning. I’m pretty sure it’s because of all the dust I have been unable to clean. Has anyone else had this issue with a gqf brooder? How do you clean the heating element? I’m going to get a can of compressed air at Walmart this weekend and try that, but I feel like there has to be some way to take off the cage around the heating element and I’m just not figuring it out.

 

[Percheron chick]

Same problem here. You can either shop vac it or get a can of air and blast it off. I have both the old and new style brooders and they just don't look like they are designed to be taken apart to clean.

 

[Silexian]

I don’t think there is a way to remove all the dust from them. All my brooders with that type of heating element. Have a smell when first turned on. After not being used for awhile. It goes away after a few minutes. So I am not concerned about them.