When your air conditioner is clean and running properly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything strange. Out of the ordinary air conditioner noises and odd smells are a clue that something is up. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had a tune-up completed lately, they can be a sure sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Kingsville.
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, particularly a chemical smell, isn’t a good sign. You could also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical smells are frequently 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 break out as time goes on.
4 Signs You Have a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to the weird smell, here are four other clues that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is on.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your residence cool or achieving your set temperature.
- High energy bills.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak calls for experienced repairs from a heating and cooling company like Four Seasons Air Conditioning and Heating LLC. Your cooling pro will pinpoint and fix the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak typically 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 much time it takes to repair.
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 due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Because of this, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be wisest to schedule 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 good 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 heavy concentrations.
How You Can Solve It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home right away.
- Getting in touch with your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who call us about this issue often mention 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 usually caused by a dirty evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Moisture 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 switching to cooling later in the day.
How to Solve It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to frequently get a new air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Four Seasons Air Conditioning and Heating LLC. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, since standing water can also result in noxious 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 situations, such as:
- A clogged filter
- Excess condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Inspect your filter first. If you haven’t put in a new one within the last three months and can’t see light through it, you should replace it. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, reach Four Seasons Air Conditioning and Heating LLC at 361-214-1203.
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 include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
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 call us at 361-214-1203 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there might be mold flourishing in 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 health. That’s why we recommend having a specialist like Four Seasons Air Conditioning and Heating LLC check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Professionals Can Eliminate Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be comfortable in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your stinky air conditioner, reach us at 361-214-1203. We’ll figure out the issue quickly and resolve it at a reasonable.