When your air conditioner is spotless and running right, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything weird. Unexpected air conditioner noises and weird smells are a sign that something is off. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had maintenance scheduled within the last year, they can be a clear sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Reinholds.
Here are six of the most frequent air conditioner smells and how you can resolve them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, particularly a chemical smell, it isn’t a great sign. You could also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are frequently a sign that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can break out as time goes on.
Four Clues You Have a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to 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.
- It’s hard keeping your house cool or having your programmed temperature.
- Increasing utility bills.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak calls for skilled support from a heating and cooling company like County Line Mechanical LLC. Your cooling professional will pinpoint and mend the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your exact 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 high probability it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be best 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 good chance you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, as the gas can be deadly in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Solve It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside promptly.
- Contacting your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who reach us regarding this problem usually mention their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is often created 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 locations where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later in the day.
How to Solve It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to routinely get a new air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with County Line Mechanical LLC. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, because excess water can also create noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it could be the result of several situations, such as:
- A clogged filter
- Extra condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Fix It
Inspect 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 fix the problem, contact County Line Mechanical LLC at 717-216-0846.
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 should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical problem.
Electrical issues should be examined immediately to avoid a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, shut it off and contact us at 717-216-0846 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there may be mold growing inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold produces.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist like County Line Mechanical LLC check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Professionals Can Eliminate Weird Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly
You deserve to be cozy in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your stinky air conditioner, give us a call at 717-216-0846. We’ll diagnose the trouble quickly and take care of it at a reasonable.