When your air conditioner is fresh and operating right, you shouldn’t be smelling anything odd. Unexpected air conditioner noises and strange smells are a hint that something is up. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had service completed recently, they can be an obvious sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Alliance.
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, it isn’t a great sign. You might also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are typically a hint that your air conditioner is suffering from a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can crack as time goes on.
Four Signs You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to the weird smell, here are four other hints that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is cooling.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your residence cold or having your set temperature.
- Increasing utility bills.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak needs experienced repairs from a heating and cooling company like Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces. Your cooling pro will find and mend the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it takes to repair.
If your air conditioner was installed earlier than 2010, it’s likely it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Because of this, repairs can be extremely 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 likely nothing wrong with it. But there’s a high likelihood you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, as the gas can be toxic in large amounts.
How You Can Fix It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home as soon as possible.
- Calling your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Homeowners who reach us to report this issue usually say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is often created 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 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 Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, since standing water can also result in nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it could be prompted by several situations, like:
- A clogged filter
- Excess condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, it’s time to replace it. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, call Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces at 308-762-1613.
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 couple of things wrong. These include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical issues should be examined quickly to avoid a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, turn it off and call us at 308-762-1613 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there could be mold flourishing 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 you should have a pro like Jack's Heating, Cooling, Stoves & Fireplaces check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Pros Can Take Care of 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 are seeking relief from your stinky air conditioner, give us a call at 308-762-1613. We’ll determine the trouble quickly and fix it at a fair price.