Why Your Air Conditioner Smells and How to Fix It

When your air conditioner starts spewing odd or gross aromas, it is a good idea to take notice because it could be a sign of a big problem. Disregarding unpleasant smells coming from your air conditioner can lead to serious damage to your air conditioning or even pose a risk to your health and safety.

Depending on the cause of the odor, the culprit might be bacteria or fungus in the system. In other cases, it could also sign something mechanically wrong with the AC. Some smells are a warning of a harmful situation, like a natural gas leak.

At LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc., we are experienced at getting to the root cause of stinky smells. If you smell something weird coming from your air conditioner, you can bet that our team of talented professionals has smelled it, too—and fixed it! We’ve earned the reputation as the go-to team for air conditioning repair in Shamokin and Sunbury.

What does a certain smell coming out of your air conditioning mean? Here are some typical air conditioner odors and what they could mean:

The Air Conditioning Smells Like Feet

If your air conditioner smells like feet, it may be caused by a buildup of bacteria or fungus inside of it. When moisture accumulates inside the unit, it can establish an environment that is conducive to the growth of bacteria and fungus. This can produce a bad odor that is often described as smelling like dirty feet.

Another potential reason for the stench of dirty feet could be a dirty air filter. When the air filter becomes clogged with dirt, dust and other debris, it can result in poor air quality and a musty smell that resembles feet.

To solve this unpleasant situation, it’s important to have a professional inspect and clean your air conditioning system, including the evaporator coil, drain pan and condensate drain line. It’s also important to exchange the air filter on a regular basis to ensure good air quality and prevent the growth of bacteria and fungus.

My Air Conditioner Smells Like Rotten Eggs

If your air conditioner stinks like rotten eggs, it may be because of a natural gas leak in the unit or in the surrounding area. Natural gas has a recognizable odor, often described as smelling like rotten eggs or sulfur, which is added to it to make it easily detectable.

A natural gas leak is very dangerous and requires immediate attention. If you suspect a gas leak, turn off your air conditioning system, immediately open windows and doors to ventilate the area, evacuate the building and call your gas company or emergency services at once.

My Air Conditioner Smells Like Mildew

If your air conditioner smells like mildew, it may be due to a buildup of moisture inside the unit. When moisture accumulates inside a cooling system, it can foster the growth of mold and mildew. This can cause a musty smell that resembles mildew.

Another possible explanation for the smell could be a soiled air filter. If the air filter becomes clogged, it can cause poor air quality and a musty smell that resembles mildew.

Annual air conditioning maintenance from LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc. can help avoid both of these problems, because a good cleaning, inspection and filter change is a great way to keep your system working at its best!

Your AC Smells Like Urine

One of the most distressing scenarios is when the air coming out of your HVAC system smells like urine.

If your air conditioning equipment reeks of urine, it could be traced back to a number of things. One possible cause is a collection of bacteria or mold in the air conditioning system. This can happen if moisture accumulates in the system and creates a moist environment that is conducive to bacterial growth. The bacteria can create a foul odor that it similar to urine.

Another potential cause of the smell could be a blocked drain line. The condensation that forms inside the air conditioning unit needs to drain away effectively, but if the drain line becomes choked with debris, it can cause water to back up and build up inside the unit. This can generate a musty smell that can stink like urine.

The Air Conditioning Smells Like Burning Plastic

If your air conditioner smells like burning plastic, a possible cause could be an electrical problem with the unit. After some time, the electrical components in the air conditioning system can wear out or break, which can produce a burning smell that resembles plastic.

Another possible cause of the smell could be a foreign object lodged in the unit. If something foreign gets stuck in the air conditioning system, it can become hot and cause a smell that reminds people of burning plastic.

If you notice something that smells like burning plastic coming from your air conditioner, it’s essential to phone a professional right away.

My Air Conditioner Smells Like Gas

If your AC smells like gas, it could be due to a natural gas leak in the unit or in another part of your home. Natural gas has a distinctive smell, often described as smelling like rotten eggs or sulfur. That’s because this scent is added to natural gas so that it is easily detectable.

As stated earlier, a natural gas leak can be VERY dangerous and needs immediate attention. When you suspect a gas leak, turn off your air conditioning system, open windows and doors to air out the home, leave the building and call your gas company or emergency services straight away.

Your AC Smells Like Fish

If your air conditioning equipment smell like fish, it could be due to a build-up of bacteria or mold in the unit. Moisture produces an environment that is conducive to the growth of bacteria and mold. This can cause a strong odor that is often described as smelling like fish or, as mentioned earlier, it also can cause a smell like dirty feet.

Another plausible explanation for the smell could be a dead animal or other biological material trapped in the air conditioning system. This often is possible if an animal such as a mouse or bird gets trapped inside the unit and dies.

To solve the issue, it’s important to have a professional check out and clean your air conditioning system. They can determine the source of the smell and take the appropriate steps to remove any contaminants and keep the problem from recurring.

The Air Conditioning Smells Like Vinegar

There could be multiple reasons your AC smells like vinegar. One possible cause might be a plugged air filter. Another potential cause of the smell could be a refrigerant leak. When the refrigerant leaks, it can create a chemical odor that is described as smelling of vinegar.

To fix the issue, it’s important to have a skilled tech look at and clean your air conditioning.  If the odor continues after the cleaning and replacing of the air filter, it’s best to reach back out to a professional to identify and repair any persistent issues with your air conditioning. Or, the mechanic can tell you if your air conditioning should be replaced.

If you are wanting to upgrade, LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc. can help select the right unit to fit your home’s needs. We offer dependable, expert air conditioner installation in Shamokin and Sunbury.

My Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals

If the smell of chemicals is coming out of your air conditioning unit, it could be due to a refrigerant leak. If the refrigerant leaks, it can create a chemical scent that some people describe as smelling like chemicals or paint thinner, vinegar or acetone.

An additional possible source of the smell could be a problem with the electrical wiring or parts inside the air conditioning system. This can produce a burning smell that it similar to chemicals or burning plastic.

If you believe there is a refrigerant leak or an electrical concern, it’s important to turn off your air conditioning system as soon as possible and contact a professional to inspect and repair the unit. Refrigerant leaks can be dangerous and may require immediate attention to avoid injury or damage to your house.

A Nasty Odor Coming from the Air Conditioning? Call the Pros at LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc.

If your air conditioner smells nasty and you aren’t able to fix it quickly on your own, contact the cooling specialists at LTS Plumbing & Heating Inc.. We have lots of experience working with a wide variety of AC systems. Our crew has fixed countless air conditioning problems through the years—including funky smells. Call us today for quality AC repair in Shamokin and Sunbury!