When your air conditioner is spotless and working properly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything strange. Out of the ordinary air conditioner noises and odd smells are a hint that something is out of whack. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had service done lately, they can be a clear sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Marshfield.
Here are six of the top air conditioner smells and how you can fix them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, especially a chemical odor, it isn’t a positive sign. You could also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are typically a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time passes.
Four clues you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
Besides the weird smell, here are four other signs that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is on.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your residence cold or having your desired temperature.
- Higher electrical bills.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak needs experienced assistance 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.
Resolving a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, based on nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how much time it requires to repair.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, it’s likely it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made due to its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Because of this, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be wisest to consider air conditioning installation in this situation.
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 significant likelihood you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to warn you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be fatal in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Repair It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside right away.
- Getting in touch with your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who reach us to report this problem usually say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also known as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is typically caused by a filthy evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Condensation can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most often seen in locations where you need heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later in the day.
How to Solve It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to frequently get a new air filter and schedule routine air conditioning maintenance with House of Heating Incorporated. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, 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 pungent, vinegar-like odor, it can be the result of several issues, like:
- A filthy filter
- Too much condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Check 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 resolve the smell, contact House of Heating Incorporated at 715-322-0009.
5. Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic
If you’re noticing an air conditioner burning smell or that your air conditioner smells like fish, there could be several things wrong. These entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical issue.
Electrical issues should be inspected immediately to stop a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, turn it off and reach us at 715-322-0009 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there might be mold present in your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold makes.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why we recommend having a professional like House of Heating Incorporated check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Pros Can Get Rid of Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Quickly.
You deserve to be cozy in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your stinky air conditioner, reach us at 715-322-0009. We’ll figure out the issue quickly and fix it at a reasonable.