When your air conditioner is spotless and operating correctly, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything odd. Peculiar air conditioner noises and weird smells are a hint that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had service scheduled within the last year, they can be a clear sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Safford.
Here are six of the top air conditioner smells and how you can repair them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, specifically a chemical odor, it isn’t a positive sign. You might also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are often a sign that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system relies on this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can break out as time passes.
Four hints you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
In addition to the strange smell, here are four other hints that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your home comfortable or having your desired temperature.
- Increasing energy costs.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak needs professional support from a heating and cooling company like B&D Air Conditioning. Your cooling professional will find and mend the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how much time it takes to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed early than 2010, there’s a high probability it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be smartest to schedule 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 high probability you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, as the gas can be deadly in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Fix It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside right away.
- Contacting your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who call us regarding this problem usually mention 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 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 typical in areas where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later in the day.
How to Repair It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to frequently replace your air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with B&D Air Conditioning. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, because standing water can also produce nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it might be caused by several situations, including:
- A filthy filter
- Too much condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Fix It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t fix the issue, reach B&D Air Conditioning at 928-432-6018.
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 couple of things wrong. These entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical issue.
Electrical problems should be examined immediately to stop a fire. If you smell 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
A powerful ammonia odor means there may be mold growing 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 health. That’s why we recommend having a pro like B&D Air Conditioning examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Pros Can Eliminate Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Quickly.
You deserve to be cozy in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your stinky air conditioner, contact us at 928-432-6018. We’ll diagnose the issue quickly and resolve it at a reasonable.