When your air conditioner is fresh and operating correctly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything weird. Peculiar air conditioner noises and odd smells are a sign that something is off. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had a tune-up scheduled recently, they can be a sure sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Monroe.
Here are six of the most frequent air conditioner smells and how you can fix them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, particularly a chemical smell, it isn’t a great sign. You may also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are typically a hint that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can wear out over time.
Four Clues You Have a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to the weird smell, here are four other signs that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your house comfortable or achieving your desired temperature.
- High energy bills.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak needs skilled support from a heating and cooling company like Lanz Furnace and Fireplace. Your cooling pro will pinpoint and fix the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, per 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 takes to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, there’s a high probability it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made because of its adverse effects on the ozone layer. Due to this, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be smartest to schedule 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 significant likelihood you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be deadly in big amounts.
How You Can Fix It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home promptly.
- Calling your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who call us to report this problem usually share their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is frequently 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 areas where you use heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later on.
How to Fix It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to routinely change your air filter and schedule routine air conditioning maintenance with Lanz Furnace and Fireplace. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, since standing water can also produce nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it can be prompted by several situations, such as:
- A filthy filter
- Extra condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Repair It
Examine your filter first. If you haven’t put in a new one within the last three months and can’t see light through it, it’s time to replace it. If that doesn’t fix the issue, reach Lanz Furnace and Fireplace at 608-291-3606.
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 entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical malfunctions should be inspected quickly to avoid a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, switch it off and reach us at 608-291-3606 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there may be mold growing within 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 we recommend having a pro like Lanz Furnace and Fireplace look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Professionals Can Get Rid of Weird Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly
You deserve to be cozy in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your noxious air conditioner, contact us at 608-291-3606. We’ll figure out the issue quickly and take care of it at a fair price.
