When your air conditioner is clean and running right, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything weird. Unexpected air conditioner noises and strange smells are a hint that something is up. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had service completed recently, they can be an obvious sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Auburn.
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 scent, it isn’t a great sign. You could also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical smells are typically a hint that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can crack over time.
Four signs you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
Besides the weird smell, here are four other clues that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is on.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your residence comfortable or reaching your set temperature.
- Higher utility costs.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak requires experienced assistance from a heating and cooling company like Forster Heating. Your cooling specialist will pinpoint and repair the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, based on nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your precise cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it needs to repair.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it’s likely it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made because of its adverse effects on the ozone layer. As a result, repairs can be significantly 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 likely nothing wrong with it. But there’s a high probability you have a natural gas leak in your residence. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal 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:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside as soon as possible.
- Contacting your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who reach us to report this problem frequently say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also referred to as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is frequently 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 common in locations where you use heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later on.
How to Fix It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to routinely change your air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Forster Heating. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, as standing water can also create nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it could be caused by several issues, such as:
- A clogged filter
- Extra condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, you should replace it. If that doesn’t resolve the smell, contact Forster Heating at 530-885-8081.
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 involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical malfunctions should be inspected quickly to stop a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, turn it off and call us at 530-885-8081 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there could be mold present within your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold produces.
How to Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why it’s important to have a professional like Forster Heating examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Pros Can Eliminate Strange Air Conditioner Smells Fast.
You deserve to be cozy in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your smelly air conditioner, contact us at 530-885-8081. We’ll figure out the trouble quickly and fix it at a reasonable.
