When your air conditioner is spotless and running right, you shouldn’t be smelling anything strange. Abnormal air conditioner noises and weird smells are a clue that something is up. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had a tune-up completed lately, they can be a sure sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Heflin.
Here are six of the top air conditioner smells and how you can solve 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 might also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are regularly a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can break out as time goes on.
Four signs you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
In addition to the strange smell, here are four other clues that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner runs.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your house cold or reaching your desired temperature.
- Increasing utility bills.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak requires skilled repairs from a heating and cooling company like Bain Heating & Air Conditioning. Your cooling professional will locate and fix the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak typically costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it requires to repair.
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 produced due to its adverse effects on the ozone layer. As a consequence, repairs can be very expensive so it may be smartest to consider air conditioning installation in this circumstance.
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 home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be toxic in big amounts.
How You Can Fix It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside promptly.
- Calling your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Homeowners who reach us to report this problem usually 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 frequently created by a dirty evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Condensation can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most common in locations where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling during the afternoon.
How to Solve It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to frequently replace your air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with Bain Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, because stagnant water can also result in nasty 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, including:
- A filthy filter
- Extra condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve 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, it’s time to replace it. If that doesn’t fix the problem, call Bain Heating & Air Conditioning at 256-270-1196.
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 several things wrong. These involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical issue.
Electrical problems should be checked quickly to prevent a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, shut it off and call us at 256-270-1196 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there might be mold spreading 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 well-being. That’s why it’s important to have a professional like Bain Heating & Air Conditioning examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Pros Can Take Care of Weird Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly.
You deserve to be comfortable in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your smelly air conditioner, reach us at 256-270-1196. We’ll diagnose the issue quickly and take care of it at a fair price.
