When your air conditioner is clean and operating right, you shouldn’t be smelling anything strange. Unusual air conditioner noises and weird smells are a hint that something is out of whack. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had maintenance done recently, they can be a sure sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Marshfield.
Here are six of the most frequent 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, particularly a chemical odor, it isn’t a good sign. You could also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are regularly a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system relies on this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can break out over time.
Four signs you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
In addition to the weird smell, here are four other signs that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is on.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your residence cool or achieving your programmed temperature.
- Higher utility bills.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak calls for professional support from a heating and cooling company like House of Heating Incorporated. Your cooling professional will find and fix the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how much time it needs to repair.
If your air conditioner was installed early than 2010, there’s a good chance it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced as a result of its adverse effects on the ozone layer. Because of this, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be smartest to consider air conditioning installation in this instance.
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 significant likelihood you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to warn you when there’s a leak, because the gas can be toxic in big amounts.
How You Can Solve It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home right away.
- Getting in touch with your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who contact us to report this situation usually report their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is usually caused by a grubby evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Moisture can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most common in areas where you use heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later in the day.
How to Repair It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to frequently change your air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with House of Heating Incorporated. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, because stagnant water can also lead to unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it might be caused by several situations, including:
- A filthy filter
- Excess condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Inspect your filter first. If you haven’t put in a new one within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t fix the smell, reach House of Heating Incorporated at 715-384-3163.
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 include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that needs lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical issue.
Electrical issues should be checked quickly to avoid a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, switch it off and call us at 715-384-3163 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there might be mold present within your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold creates.
How to Solve It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why it’s important to have a professional like House of Heating Incorporated check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Pros Can Eliminate Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Quickly.
You deserve to be comfortable in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your noxious air conditioner, reach us at 715-384-3163. We’ll figure out the problem quickly and resolve it at a competitive.