When your air conditioner starts emitting weird or unappealing smells, it is necessary to take notice because it could be a sign of a significant problem. Disregarding unpleasant smells coming from your air conditioner could lead to further damage to your AC 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 signal something mechanically wrong with the air conditioner. Some smells are even indicative of a harmful scenario, like a natural gas leak.
At Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning, we are skilled at diagnosing and fixing these type of problems. If you smell something weird coming from your cooling system, chances are our team of qualified professionals has smelled it, too—and fixed it! We’ve earned the reputation as the premier company for air conditioning repair in Savage.
What does a certain smell wafting from your AC mean? Here are a few typical air conditioner odors and what they might mean:
Your AC Smells Like Feet
If your air conditioner smells like feet, it may be due to a buildup of bacteria or fungus inside of it. When moisture accumulates inside the unit, it can produce an environment that is beneficial to the spread of bacteria and fungus. This can cause a bad odor that is often described as smelling like dirty feet.
Another possible reason for the smell could be a dirty air filter. When your HVAC system's air filter becomes choked with dirt, dust and other particles, it can result in low air quality and a musty smell that bears a resemblance to feet.
To solve this problem, it's important to have a quality service tech inspect and clean your air conditioning system, including the evaporator coil, drain pan and condensate drain line. It's also important to change the air filter routinely to promote good air quality and prevent the growth of bacteria and fungus.
My Air Conditioner Smells Like Rotten Eggs
If your air conditioning unit reeks of rotten eggs, it could be caused by a natural gas leak in the unit or in the surrounding area. Natural gas has a unique odor, often described as smelling like rotten eggs or sulfur, that is added to it to make it easily detectable.
A natural gas leak is extraordinarily dangerous and requires immediate attention. If you suspect a gas leak, turn off your air conditioning system, immediately open windows and doors to allow gas to escape the area, make everyone leave the building and call your gas company or emergency services right away.
Your AC Smells Like Mildew
If your AC emits a smell like mildew, it might be due to a collection of moisture inside the unit. When moisture forms inside an air conditioner, it can cultivate the growth of mold and mildew. This can cause a musty stench that resembles mildew.
Another possible explanation for the smell could be a clogged air filter. Once the air filter becomes clogged, it can cause poor air quality and a musty smell that has a resemblance to mildew.
Regular air conditioning maintenance from Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning can help avoid both of these situations, because a good cleaning, inspection and filter change is a great way to keep your system working at its best!
My Air Conditioner Smells Like Urine
One of the most undesirable scenarios is when your AC smells like urine.
If your air conditioner stinks like urine, it could be traced back to a number of things. One likely cause is a collection of bacteria or mold in the air conditioning system. This can happen when moisture accumulates in the system and creates a wet environment that is conducive to bacterial growth. The bacteria can produce a foul odor that is like 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 correctly, but if the drain line becomes choked with debris, it can cause water to back up and collect inside the unit. This can produce a musty smell that resembles urine.
My Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic
If your air conditioner smells like burning plastic, it might be because of an electrical problem with the unit. After a while, the electrical components in the air conditioning system can wear out or malfunction, which can create a burning smell that resembles plastic.
Another possible reason for the smell could be a foreign object that somehow got in the HVAC system. If something foreign gets trapped in the air conditioning system, it can heat up and cause a smell that reminds people of burning plastic.
If you think you smell burning plastic coming from your air conditioner, it’s essential to call a professional right away.
Your AC Smells Like Gas
If your air conditioning smells like gas, there could be a natural gas leak in the unit or in another part of your home. Natural gas has a distinctive odor, often described as smelling like rotten eggs or sulfur. That’s because a smell is incorporated into natural gas to make it easily detectable.
As stated previously, a natural gas leak can be VERY dangerous and calls for 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 phone your gas company or emergency services as soon as possible.
My Air Conditioner Smells Like Fish
Should your AC smell like fish, it could be due to a build-up of bacteria or mold in the unit. Moisture causes an environment that is conducive to the growth of bacteria and mold. This can cause a disgusting odor that is often described as smelling like fish or, as mentioned earlier, it also can cause a smell like dirty feet.
Another possible cause of the smell could be a dead animal or other biological material trapped within the air conditioning system. This often is possible if an animal such as a mouse or bird is trapped inside the unit and dies.
To solve the issue, it's worthwhile to have a professional examine and clean your air conditioning system. They should be able to find the source of the smell and take the appropriate steps to remove any contaminants and keep the problem from recurring.
Your AC Smells Like Vinegar
There could be numerous reasons a home's AC smells like vinegar. One possible cause of the smell could be a dirty air filter. One other potential cause of the smell could be a refrigerant leak. When the refrigerant leaks, it can make a chemical odor that resembles vinegar.
To fix the issue, it's essential to have a skilled tech inspect and clean your air conditioning. If the odor persists after the cleaning and changing of the air filter, it's best to reach back out to a professional to diagnose and repair any hidden issues with your air conditioning. Or, the tech can tell you if your air conditioning needs to be replaced.
If you are wanting to upgrade, Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning can help select the ideal unit to fit your home’s needs. We offer dependable, professional air conditioner installation in Savage.
My Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If the smell of chemicals is emitting out of your air conditioning equipment, it could be the result of a refrigerant leak. When 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 cause of the smell could be something wrong with the electrical wiring or hardware 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 immediately and contact a professional to inspect and repair the unit. Refrigerant leaks can be dangerous and may require immediate attention to prevent injury or damage to your home.
Weird Smells Coming from Your Cooling? Contact the Experts at Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning
If your air conditioner reeks and you aren’t able to fix it easily on your own, call the cooling experts at Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning. We have years of experience working with a wide variety of HVAC systems. Our crew has fixed a multitude of air conditioning problems over the years—including funky smells. Call us today for quality AC repair in Savage!
