When your air conditioner is spotless and running correctly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything weird. Peculiar air conditioner noises and weird smells are a hint that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had service completed recently, they can be an obvious sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Zelienople.
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, particularly 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 often a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can break out as time goes on.
Four Clues You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to the odd smell, here are four other signs that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner runs.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your residence comfortable or reaching your programmed temperature.
- Increasing utility bills.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak needs skilled support from a heating and cooling company like Knoechel Heating. Your cooling technician will pinpoint and fix the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your precise cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how many hours it takes to repair.
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 made due to its negative effects on the ozone layer. Due to this, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be smartest to consider air conditioning installation in this circumstance.
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 chance you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, as the gas can be fatal in large 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 promptly.
- Contacting your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who call us about this issue frequently 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 frequently created by 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 often seen in areas where you need heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later on.
How to Fix It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to routinely change your air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Knoechel Heating. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, because 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 might be caused by several issues, like:
- A clogged filter
- Extra condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Repair It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t fix the problem, reach Knoechel Heating at 724-425-5852.
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 issue.
Electrical malfunctions should be examined quickly to avoid a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, switch it off and reach us at 724-425-5852 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there might be mold growing inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold creates.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your wellness. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist like Knoechel Heating examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Pros Can Get Rid of Odd Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be comfortable in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your stinky air conditioner, reach us at 724-425-5852. We’ll figure out the trouble quickly and resolve it at a fair price.