When your air conditioner is spotless and operating properly, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything weird. Peculiar air conditioner noises and weird smells are a hint that something is up. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had maintenance done within the last year, they can be a sure sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Paxinos.
Here are six of the most frequent 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 may also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical smells are frequently a sign that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system relies on this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time passes.
Four Signs You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
Aside from the weird smell, here are four other hints that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner runs.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your residence cool or achieving your desired temperature.
- Higher utility bills.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak requires experienced support from a heating and cooling company like LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc.. Your cooling pro will pinpoint and mend the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how many hours it needs to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, there’s a good chance it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured as a result of its negative effects on the ozone layer. As a result, repairs can be very 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 possibly 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, as the gas can be toxic in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Solve It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside promptly.
- Contacting your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who contact us to report this situation often report their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also referred to as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is often linked to 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 climates where you use heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later on.
How to Repair It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to routinely change your air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc.. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, since stagnant water can also lead to nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it can be caused by several situations, like:
- A filthy filter
- Too much condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Fix It
Examine your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t solve the smell, call LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc. at 570-648-0748.
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 malfunctions should be inspected immediately to prevent a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, switch it off and contact us at 570-648-0748 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there may be mold growing inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold creates.
How to Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why we recommend having a specialist like LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc. examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Pros Can Take Care of Odd Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly
You deserve to be comfy 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 570-648-0748. We’ll diagnose the problem quickly and fix it at a competitive.