When your air conditioner is spotless and running right, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything strange. Out of the ordinary air conditioner noises and strange smells are a clue that something is off. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had service completed recently, they can be an obvious sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Thedford.
Here are six of the most common air conditioner smells and how you can fix them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, specifically a chemical scent, it isn’t a good sign. You may also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are typically a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can crack as time goes on.
Four Signs You Have a Refrigerant Leak
Besides the odd smell, here are four other signs that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is on.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your house comfortable or achieving your set temperature.
- High energy expenses.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak requires professional repairs from a heating and cooling company like Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning. Your cooling specialist will pinpoint and mend the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, based on nationwide averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. Your precise cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it needs to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed earlier than 2010, there’s a good chance it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured as a result of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a consequence, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be best to do air conditioning installation in this instance.
2. Air Conditioner Smells Like Gas
If your air conditioner smells like rotten eggs, there’s likely nothing wrong with it. But there’s a significant chance you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be deadly in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Fix It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home right away.
- Contacting your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who contact us about this situation usually share their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is usually created by a filthy evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Excess water can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most often seen in locations where you need heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later on.
How to Fix It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to regularly change your air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, because standing water can also create noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it can be prompted by several problems, including:
- A clogged filter
- Excess condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Inspect your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t fix the problem, reach Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning at 519-296-4437.
5. Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic
If you’re noticing an air conditioner burning smell or that your air conditioner smells like fish, there could be a couple of things wrong. These include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical problems should be checked immediately to prevent a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, shut it off and contact us at 519-296-4437 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there could be mold growing inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold creates.
How to Solve It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why it’s important to have a professional like Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Professionals Can Take Care of Odd Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be comfy in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your stinky air conditioner, give us a call at 519-296-4437. We’ll determine the trouble quickly and resolve it at a competitive.