When your air conditioner is clean and working correctly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything odd. Unusual air conditioner noises and odd smells are a hint that something is off. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had service scheduled recently, they can be a clear sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Elk River.
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 notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are typically a hint that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time goes on.
Four signs you have a refrigerant leak.
Besides the weird smell, here are four other clues that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is cooling.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your house cool or having your desired temperature.
- High energy bills.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak needs experienced support from a heating and cooling company like Home Comfort Heating & Air. Your cooling professional will find and repair the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak typically costs between $225 and $1,600, based on nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your precise 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 prior to 2010, there’s a good chance it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured due to its adverse effects on the ozone layer. As a consequence, repairs can be very expensive so it may be smartest to schedule air conditioning installation in this instance.
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 good chance you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, because the gas can be toxic in large amounts.
How You Can Solve It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside right away.
- Getting in touch with your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who contact us about this problem often mention their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s running. Also referred to as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is typically 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 areas where you use heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later on.
How to Fix It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to regularly change your air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with Home Comfort Heating & Air. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, because excess water can also create nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it could be prompted by several situations, like:
- A filthy filter
- Excess condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Repair It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, you should replace it. If that doesn’t resolve the smell, call Home Comfort Heating & Air at 763-276-0617.
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 entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical problem.
Electrical malfunctions should be inspected immediately to avoid a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is operating, shut it off and contact us at 763-276-0617 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there might be mold flourishing in your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold produces.
How to Solve It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why you should have a professional like Home Comfort Heating & Air examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Professionals Can Get Rid of Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Fast.
You deserve to be comfortable in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your smelly air conditioner, contact us at 763-276-0617. We’ll figure out the issue quickly and resolve it at a fair price.
