When your air conditioner is fresh and working right, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything strange. Abnormal air conditioner noises and weird smells are a hint that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had maintenance done recently, they can be a clear sign you need professional 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, especially a chemical scent, it isn’t a good sign. You might also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are regularly a hint that your air conditioner is suffering from a refrigerant leak. Your system relies on this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can break out over time.
Four Signs You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to the weird smell, here are four other clues that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your residence cool or achieving your set temperature.
- High electrical expenses.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak calls for skilled assistance from a heating and cooling company like North Mechanical Heating and Cooling. Your cooling professional will pinpoint and repair the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how many hours it needs to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, there’s a good chance it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced because of its adverse effects on the ozone layer. Due to this, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be best to do air conditioning installation in this circumstance.
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 high probability 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 big amounts.
How You Can Solve It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home as soon as possible.
- Getting in touch with your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Homeowners who contact us regarding this issue usually 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 often linked to a filthy evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Excess water can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most common in locations where you need heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling during the afternoon.
How to Fix It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to frequently get a new air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with North Mechanical Heating and Cooling. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, as excess water can also create nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it could be the result of several problems, such as:
- A dirty filter
- Extra condensation
- Plugged 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, you should replace it. If that doesn’t solve the problem, reach North Mechanical Heating and Cooling at 928-263-8570.
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 a number of things wrong. These entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that needs lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical malfunctions should be inspected right away to avoid a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, switch it off and contact us at 928-263-8570 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there might be mold present in your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold produces.
How to Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why it’s important to have a pro like North Mechanical Heating and Cooling check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Specialists Can Eliminate Weird Air Conditioner Smells Quickly
You deserve to be cozy in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your smelly air conditioner, reach us at 928-263-8570. We’ll determine the trouble quickly and fix it at a competitive.