When your air conditioner is clean and operating correctly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything odd. Unusual air conditioner noises and strange smells are a sign that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had maintenance scheduled within the last year, they can be a clear sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Jefferson.
Here are six of the most frequent air conditioner smells and how you can solve them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, specifically a chemical smell, it isn’t a great sign. You might also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are typically a sign that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system relies on this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can crack as time goes on.
Four Signs You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
Besides the strange smell, here are four other hints that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner runs.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your residence cold or having your programmed temperature.
- Higher electrical bills.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak requires professional repairs from a heating and cooling company like Pratt Brothers. Your cooling pro will pinpoint and fix the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, based on 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 requires to repair.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it’s likely it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be smartest 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 significant probability you have a natural gas leak in your residence. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be toxic in large amounts.
How You Can Repair It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home as soon as possible.
- Calling your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who call us to report this issue often say 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 typically caused by a dirty evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Condensation can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most typical in climates where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later on.
How to Solve It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to regularly change your air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with Pratt Brothers. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, since excess water can also result in unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it can be caused by several problems, such as:
- A dirty filter
- Excess condensation
- Clogged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Inspect 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 solve the problem, call Pratt Brothers at 920-347-8495.
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 number of things wrong. These include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical malfunctions should be inspected immediately to avoid a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, shut it off and contact us at 920-347-8495 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there might be mold spreading in 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 you should have a pro like Pratt Brothers look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Pros Can Take Care of Strange Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be cozy in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your stinky air conditioner, give us a call at 920-347-8495. We’ll figure out the issue quickly and resolve it at a fair price.