When your air conditioner is spotless and working correctly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything strange. Out of the ordinary air conditioner noises and odd smells are a hint that something is off. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had maintenance completed recently, they can be an obvious sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Savage.
Here are six of the most frequent 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 smell, 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 scents are typically a clue that your air conditioner is suffering from a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can break out as time passes.
Four hints you have 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 cooling.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your home cold or having your desired temperature.
- High electrical bills.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak calls for skilled assistance from a heating and cooling company like Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning. Your cooling technician will pinpoint and fix the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, according to 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 requires to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, there’s a good chance it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made as a result of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, repairs can be very expensive so it may be smartest to consider 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 good 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, because the gas can be deadly in big amounts.
How You Can Solve It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside as soon as possible.
- Calling your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who reach us to report this issue usually 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 often linked to a grubby 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 often seen in climates where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later in the day.
How to Solve It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to regularly replace your air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, because standing water can also create unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it might be the result of several issues, such as:
- A clogged filter
- Extra condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Inspect 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 solve the issue, contact Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning at 952-373-0377.
5. Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic
If you’re dealing with an air conditioner burning smell or that your air conditioner smells like fish, there could be several things wrong. These include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical problem.
Electrical malfunctions should be checked quickly to avoid a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, switch it off and contact us at 952-373-0377 immediately.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there might be mold present inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold creates.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your wellness. That’s why it’s important to have a professional like Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Specialists Can Eliminate Strange 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 noxious air conditioner, reach us at 952-373-0377. We’ll diagnose the issue quickly and fix it at a reasonable.
