When your air conditioner is spotless and operating right, you shouldn’t be smelling anything weird. Unusual air conditioner noises and odd smells are a sign that something is out of whack. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had a tune-up done within the last year, they can be a sure sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Tucker.
Here are six of the most frequent 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, especially a chemical odor, it isn’t a positive sign. You may also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are often a sign that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can wear out over time.
Four Hints You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to the strange smell, here are four other clues that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your residence cool or reaching your programmed temperature.
- Higher electrical expenses.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak requires experienced support from a heating and cooling company like ACS Heating and Air Conditioning. Your cooling pro will find and mend the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. Your precise cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how much time it requires to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, there’s a good chance it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Due to this, 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 probably nothing wrong with it. But there’s a high chance you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to warn you when there’s a leak, as the gas can be toxic in large amounts.
How You Can Solve It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home promptly.
- Calling your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who contact us about this problem frequently say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s running. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is usually linked to a grubby evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Moisture can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most common in climates where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later in the day.
How to Solve It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to frequently get a new air filter and schedule routine air conditioning maintenance with ACS Heating and Air Conditioning. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, because excess water can also result in nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it might be the result of several situations, such as:
- A filthy filter
- Extra condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Repair It
Examine your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, it’s time to replace it. If that doesn’t solve the smell, contact ACS Heating and Air Conditioning at 770-450-1539.
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 issue.
Electrical issues should be inspected quickly to avoid a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, switch it off and call us at 770-450-1539 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there may be mold present inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold makes.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why we recommend having a specialist like ACS Heating and Air Conditioning check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Professionals Can Eliminate Strange Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly
You deserve to be comfy in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your stinky air conditioner, reach us at 770-450-1539. We’ll diagnose the problem quickly and take care of it at a reasonable.
