When your air conditioner is spotless and working right, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything weird. Peculiar air conditioner noises and odd smells are a hint that something is up. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had maintenance scheduled lately, they can be a clear sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Payson.
Here are six of the most frequent 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, particularly a chemical odor, isn’t a good sign. You could also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical smells are often a sign that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system relies on this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can wear out over time.
4 Hints You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to the weird smell, here are four other signs that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner runs.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your house cold or having your desired temperature.
- High electrical costs.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak requires experienced support from a heating and cooling company like North Mechanical Heating and Cooling. Your cooling professional will locate and fix the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak usually 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 much time it takes to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed early than 2010, there’s a good chance it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured as a result of its negative effects on the ozone layer. Due to this, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be best to schedule 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 significant probability you have a natural gas leak in your residence. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to warn you when there’s a leak, as the gas can be toxic in big amounts.
How You Can Fix It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside as soon as possible.
- Call your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who call us regarding this problem frequently mention their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is often caused by a dirty 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 areas where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later in the day.
How to Solve It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to routinely get a new air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with North Mechanical Heating and Cooling. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, because standing water can also create nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it might be prompted by several issues, like:
- A dirty filter
- Too much condensation
- Clogged 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, it’s time to replace it. If that doesn’t fix the issue, contact North Mechanical Heating and Cooling at 928-263-8570.
5. Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic
If you’re experiencing 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 requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical malfunctions.
Electrical issues should be inspected immediately to stop a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is operating, turn it off and reach us at 928-263-8570 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there may be mold spreading within your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold creates.
How to Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why we recommend having a specialist like North Mechanical Heating and Cooling check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Specialists Can Get Rid of Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be comfy in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your smelly air conditioner, contact us at 928-263-8570. We’ll determine the trouble quickly and resolve it at a competitive.