When your air conditioner is clean and working properly, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything strange. Abnormal air conditioner noises and odd smells are a hint that something is up. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had a tune-up scheduled recently, they can be a sure sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Florissant and St. Charles.
Here are six of the top 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, especially a chemical odor, it isn’t a positive sign. You could also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are regularly a clue that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can break out as time passes.
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 is operating.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your home cool or having your programmed temperature.
- High energy bills.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak needs professional repairs from a heating and cooling company like B & B Heating & Cooling. Your cooling professional will locate and repair the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. Your precise 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 prior to 2010, there’s a good chance it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured as a result of its negative effects on the ozone layer. Because of this, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be best 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 high chance you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to warn you when there’s a leak, because the gas can be toxic in large amounts.
How You Can Repair It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home promptly.
- Contacting your gas company without delay.
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 running. Also called 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 typical in areas where you need heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later on.
How to Repair It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to regularly get a new air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with B & B Heating & Cooling. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, because standing water can also create unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it could be the result of several issues, such as:
- A dirty filter
- Too much condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, you should replace it. If that doesn’t solve the smell, contact B & B Heating & Cooling at 314-325-7552.
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 a number of things wrong. These include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical issue.
Electrical issues should be checked immediately to prevent a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, shut it off and reach us at 314-325-7552 immediately.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there could be mold flourishing inside 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 it’s important to have a professional like B & B Heating & Cooling examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Specialists Can Eliminate Odd Air Conditioner Smells Fast.
You deserve to be comfy in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your noxious air conditioner, give us a call at 314-325-7552. We’ll figure out the trouble quickly and take care of it at a competitive.