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 wrong. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had maintenance completed recently, they can be a sure sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Mobile.
Here are six of the most common 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, especially a chemical smell, isn’t a good sign. You could also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are often a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time passes.
4 Hints You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to the strange smell, here are four other hints that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your residence comfortable or achieving your set temperature.
- High utility expenses.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak needs experienced repairs from a heating and cooling company like Farnell Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. Your cooling specialist will locate and repair the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak typically 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 many hours it requires to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, it’s likely it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be best to do air conditioning installation in this situation.
2. Air Conditioner Smells Like Gas
If your air conditioner smells like rotten eggs, there’s probably nothing wrong with it. But there’s a significant chance you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be fatal in large amounts.
How You Can Fix It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside as soon as possible.
- Call your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who call us about this situation often mention 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 usually linked to a grubby 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 use heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later on.
How to Solve It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to routinely replace your air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with Farnell Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, since standing water can also create unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it can be the result of several issues, including:
- A filthy filter
- Extra condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Fix It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, reach Farnell Heating & Air Conditioning Inc at 251-471-2674.
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 a number of things wrong. These involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical problems should be inspected quickly to prevent a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is operating, shut it off and call us at 251-471-2674 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there could be mold growing inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold makes.
How to Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why we recommend having a pro like Farnell Heating & Air Conditioning Inc look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Specialists Can Eliminate Odd Air Conditioner Smells Quickly
You deserve to be cozy in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your noxious air conditioner, reach us at 251-471-2674. We’ll determine the problem quickly and fix it at a fair price.