When your air conditioner is fresh and operating correctly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything strange. Out of the ordinary air conditioner noises and strange smells are a sign that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had service completed within the last year, they can be a clear sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Litchfield Park.
Here are six of the most common air conditioner smells and how you can resolve them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, especially a chemical smell, it isn’t a great sign. You might also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical smells are typically a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time passes.
Four Clues You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
Besides the strange smell, here are four other clues that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is on.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your home cold or achieving your programmed temperature.
- Increasing utility expenses.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak requires skilled support from a heating and cooling company like Cooler Tymes LLC. Your cooling technician will find and repair the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak typically costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your precise cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it takes to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, there’s a high probability it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Because of this, repairs can be very expensive so it may be smartest to consider air conditioning installation in this instance.
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 significant likelihood you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to warn you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be fatal in big amounts.
How You Can Solve It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside promptly.
- Calling your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who reach us regarding this situation frequently share their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is frequently created by a dirty 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 common in locations where you use heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later on.
How to Fix It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to regularly change your air filter and schedule routine air conditioning maintenance with Cooler Tymes LLC. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, as standing water can also produce noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it can be caused by several issues, like:
- A dirty filter
- Too much condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Inspect your filter first. If you haven’t put in a new one within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t solve the issue, reach Cooler Tymes LLC at 623-208-6444.
5. Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic
If you’re dealing with an air conditioner burning smell or that your air conditioner smells like fish, there could be a number of things wrong. These include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that needs lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical issue.
Electrical issues should be examined immediately to avoid a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is operating, turn it off and call us at 623-208-6444 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there might 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 it’s important to have a specialist like Cooler Tymes LLC examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Specialists Can Get Rid of Weird Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be comfortable in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your smelly air conditioner, contact us at 623-208-6444. We’ll diagnose the issue quickly and take care of it at a competitive.