When your air conditioner is fresh and working correctly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything strange. Unusual air conditioner noises and odd smells are a sign that something is off. If your air conditioner is getting older or you haven’t had service completed within the last year, they can be a sure sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Thousand Palms.
Here are six of the most common 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 could also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are typically a clue that your air conditioner is suffering from a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can crack over time.
Four Clues You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
Aside from the strange smell, here are four other signs that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is on.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your home cold or achieving your programmed temperature.
- Increasing electrical bills.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak needs experienced support from a heating and cooling company like Marios Air Conditioning. Your cooling pro will pinpoint and repair the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your precise cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it needs to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed before 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 harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a consequence, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be wisest to consider air conditioning installation in this instance.
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 significant probability you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be fatal in big amounts.
How You Can Solve It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside as soon as possible.
- Getting in touch with your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who reach us about this situation frequently report 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 often 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 common in climates where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later in the day.
How to Fix It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to regularly get a new air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with Marios Air Conditioning. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, because excess water can also lead to nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it can be prompted by several problems, like:
- A filthy filter
- Too much condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve 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 fix the problem, contact 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 requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical malfunctions.
Electrical issues should be examined immediately to stop a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, switch it off and contact us at 760-314-4766 immediately.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there may be mold present within your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold makes.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist like Marios Air Conditioning examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Specialists Can Take Care of Weird Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be cozy in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your noxious air conditioner, reach us at 760-314-4766. We’ll figure out the problem quickly and resolve it at a reasonable.