When your air conditioner is fresh and working properly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything odd. Unexpected air conditioner noises and strange smells are a sign that something is up. If your air conditioner is getting older or you haven’t had a tune-up done lately, they can be a sure sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Payson.
Here are six of the most frequent air conditioner smells and how you can fix 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 great sign. You could also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are frequently a sign that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time goes on.
Four Hints You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
Besides the strange smell, here are four other signs that you are experiencing 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 comfortable or achieving your desired temperature.
- High electrical expenses.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak calls for professional repairs from a heating and cooling company like North Mechanical Heating and Cooling. Your cooling pro will find and fix the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. Your precise 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 prior to 2010, there’s a high probability it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured because of its adverse effects on the ozone layer. Due to this, repairs can be very 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 likely nothing wrong with it. But there’s a good 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, since the gas can be fatal in big amounts.
How You Can Fix It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home right away.
- Calling your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who reach us to report this issue usually share their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also known as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is typically caused 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 typical in climates where you need heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling during the afternoon.
How to Solve It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to frequently get a new air filter and schedule routine air conditioning maintenance with North Mechanical Heating and Cooling. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, as stagnant water can also create unpleasant 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 problems, including:
- A filthy filter
- Extra condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Repair It
Examine 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 solve the issue, call 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 a couple of things wrong. These entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical malfunctions.
Electrical problems should be examined immediately to prevent a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, shut it off and call us at 928-263-8570 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there may 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 well-being. That’s why we recommend having a pro like North Mechanical Heating and Cooling look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Professionals Can Take Care of Unpleasant 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 smelly air conditioner, give us a call at 928-263-8570. We’ll determine the trouble quickly and fix it at a competitive.