When your air conditioner is spotless and running correctly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything strange. Peculiar air conditioner noises and weird smells are a hint that something is up. If your air conditioner is getting older or you haven’t had a tune-up scheduled recently, they can be an obvious sign you need professional 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, particularly a chemical odor, it isn’t a great sign. You may also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are often a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system relies on this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can crack over time.
Four Hints You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to the strange smell, here are four other signs that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your residence comfortable or having your desired temperature.
- Increasing energy expenses.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak requires experienced assistance from a heating and cooling company like Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning. Your cooling specialist will locate and fix the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your precise cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how much time it needs to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed earlier than 2010, it’s likely it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be wisest to do air conditioning installation in this situation.
2. Air Conditioner Smells Like Gas
If your air conditioner smells like rotten eggs, there’s possibly nothing wrong with it. But there’s a significant chance you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be fatal in big amounts.
How You Can Repair It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home promptly.
- Getting in touch with your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who call us about this issue often say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also known as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is usually linked to a filthy evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Condensation can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most typical in climates where you need heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later on.
How to Repair It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to frequently change your air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, since standing water can also result in nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it can be the result of several issues, like:
- A dirty filter
- Too much condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Repair It
Inspect your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t fix the problem, call Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning at 519-296-4437.
5. Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic
If you’re experiencing an air conditioner burning smell or that your air conditioner smells like fish, there could be a number of things wrong. These entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical malfunctions should be examined right away to prevent a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, shut it off and contact us at 519-296-4437 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there could be mold flourishing inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold creates.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your wellness. That’s why you should have a pro like Taylor's Heating & Air Conditioning look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Pros Can Eliminate Strange Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be comfortable in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your stinky air conditioner, reach us at 519-296-4437. We’ll determine the trouble quickly and take care of it at a reasonable.