When your air conditioner is fresh and working right, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything strange. Peculiar air conditioner noises and strange smells are a sign that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had maintenance done lately, they can be an obvious sign you need pro air conditioning repair in South Beloit and Belvidere.
Here are six of the most common air conditioner smells and how you can solve them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, especially a chemical scent, it isn’t a positive sign. You might also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical smells are typically a sign that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time passes.
Four Clues You Have a Refrigerant Leak
Besides the odd smell, here are four other hints that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is on.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your house comfortable or having your programmed temperature.
- Increasing energy expenses.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak requires professional repairs from a heating and cooling company like Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. Your cooling technician will find and repair the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak typically costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how many hours it needs 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 because of its negative effects on the ozone layer. Because of this, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be best to consider air conditioning installation in this circumstance.
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 likelihood you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be fatal in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Fix It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home promptly.
- Calling your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who call us about this problem frequently mention their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also referred to as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is usually linked to 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 often seen in locations where you need heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later in the day.
How to Solve It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to regularly replace your air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, since excess water can also create unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it can be prompted by several situations, including:
- A dirty filter
- Excess condensation
- Clogged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Inspect your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, you should replace it. If that doesn’t solve the problem, contact Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc at 877-389-2465.
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 involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical issues should be inspected quickly to avoid a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is operating, switch it off and contact us at 877-389-2465 immediately.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there could be mold spreading inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold makes.
How to Solve It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why we recommend having a pro like Fleming Heating & Air Conditioning Inc check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Specialists Can Take Care of Odd Air Conditioner Smells Quickly
You deserve to be cozy in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your noxious air conditioner, contact us at 877-389-2465. We’ll diagnose the issue quickly and resolve it at a fair price.
