When your air conditioner is spotless and operating correctly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything strange. Unusual 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 maintenance completed lately, they can be an obvious sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Thousand Palms.
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 good sign. You might also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are frequently a clue that your air conditioner is suffering from a refrigerant leak. Your system relies on this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can break out over time.
Four signs you have a refrigerant leak.
Besides the weird smell, here are four other clues that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner runs.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your home comfortable or reaching your desired temperature.
- Increasing utility bills.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak calls for professional support from a heating and cooling company like Marios Air Conditioning. Your cooling pro will find and fix the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak typically costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it requires to solve.
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 made due to its adverse effects on the ozone layer. As a result, repairs can be very expensive so it may be wisest to do 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 good chance 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 fatal in large amounts.
How You Can Fix It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home right away.
- Calling your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who contact us regarding this issue frequently say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is usually created by a filthy evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Condensation can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most often seen in areas where you use heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later in the day.
How to Solve It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to regularly replace your air filter and schedule routine air conditioning maintenance with Marios Air Conditioning. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, because stagnant water can also result in noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it can be the result of several issues, like:
- A dirty filter
- Extra condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Fix It
Examine your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, it’s time to replace it. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, reach Marios Air Conditioning at 760-314-4766.
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 several things wrong. These involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that needs lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical problem.
Electrical problems should be examined immediately to stop a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, turn it off and call us at 760-314-4766 immediately.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there could be mold spreading inside 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 health. That’s why it’s important to have a pro like Marios Air Conditioning check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Pros Can Get Rid of Strange Air Conditioner Smells Quickly.
You deserve to be comfortable in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your stinky air conditioner, give us a call at 760-314-4766. We’ll determine the issue quickly and fix it at a reasonable.