When your air conditioner is clean and working properly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything weird. Peculiar air conditioner noises and odd smells are a clue that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had service completed within the last year, they can be a clear sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Safford.
Here are six of the most common 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 odor, isn’t a good sign. You could also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical smells are regularly a sign that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can break out as time passes.
4 Signs You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
Aside from 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 home cold or having your set temperature.
- High energy expenses.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak calls for experienced assistance from a heating and cooling company like B&D Air Conditioning. Your cooling specialist will find and fix the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how much time it takes to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, there’s a high probability it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced as a result of its adverse effects on the ozone layer. Due to this, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be best to schedule 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 good likelihood 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 large amounts.
How You Can Fix It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home right away.
- Call your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who reach us about this situation frequently mention their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s running. Also referred to as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is usually caused by 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 often seen in locations where you need heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later in the day.
How to Solve It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to frequently get a new air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with B&D Air Conditioning. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, because stagnant water can also result in unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it might be caused by several issues, such as:
- A clogged filter
- Excess condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Examine your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, it’s time to replace it. If that doesn’t resolve the smell, contact B&D Air Conditioning at 928-432-6018.
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 number of things wrong. These involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical issues should be checked quickly to prevent a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, switch it off and contact us at 928-432-6018 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there might be mold growing within 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 health. That’s why you should have a specialist like B&D Air Conditioning look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Professionals Can Take Care of Odd Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be comfortable in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your smelly air conditioner, reach us at 928-432-6018. We’ll determine the issue quickly and resolve it at a competitive.