When your air conditioner is fresh and working properly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything strange. Abnormal air conditioner noises and weird smells are a hint that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is getting older or you haven’t had a tune-up scheduled lately, they can be an obvious sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Muldrow.
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, specifically a chemical odor, it isn’t a positive sign. You could also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical smells are regularly a sign 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 as time goes on.
Four Clues You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
Besides the odd smell, here are four other clues that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your home comfortable or reaching your desired temperature.
- Higher energy bills.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak requires experienced support from a heating and cooling company like Air Service Co.. Your cooling professional will locate and repair the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your precise cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how many hours it requires to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, there’s a high probability it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced as a result of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Because of this, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be wisest to do air conditioning installation in this instance.
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 chance you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be fatal in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Repair It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home promptly.
- Getting in touch with your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who contact us about this situation often share their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also referred to as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is often linked to a dirty 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 typical in locations where you use heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later on.
How to Solve It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to regularly get a new air filter and schedule routine air conditioning maintenance with Air Service Co.. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, because standing water can also create unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it might be the result of several situations, including:
- A dirty filter
- Excess condensation
- Clogged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Repair It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t solve the smell, call Air Service Co. at 918-212-8943.
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 several things wrong. These include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical malfunctions should be checked quickly to avoid a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, turn it off and call us at 918-212-8943 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there could be mold growing in your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold makes.
How to Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why you should have a specialist like Air Service Co. look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Pros Can Take Care of Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly
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, give us a call at 918-212-8943. We’ll figure out the trouble quickly and resolve it at a fair price.
