When your air conditioner is clean and working correctly, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything weird. Out of the ordinary air conditioner noises and weird smells are a clue that something is up. If your air conditioner is getting older or you haven’t had service scheduled lately, they can be an obvious sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Florissant.
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, especially a chemical smell, it isn’t a good sign. You could also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are often a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time passes.
Four Signs You Have a Refrigerant Leak
Besides the strange smell, here are four other hints that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is cooling.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your residence comfortable or achieving your set temperature.
- High electrical 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 technician will pinpoint and mend the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak usually 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 long it needs to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed earlier than 2010, it’s likely it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured due to its adverse effects on the ozone layer. Because of this, repairs can be very expensive so it may be best 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 significant likelihood you have a natural gas leak in your residence. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to warn you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be toxic in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Solve It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home as soon as possible.
- Getting in touch with your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who call us regarding this problem often report their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. 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 often seen in climates where you need heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later in the day.
How to Fix It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to regularly change your air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with B & B Heating & Cooling. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, since stagnant water can also create nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it can be caused by several issues, such as:
- A clogged filter
- Extra condensation
- Clogged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Inspect 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 several things wrong. These include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical issue.
Electrical problems should be inspected quickly to stop a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, shut it off and call us at 314-325-7552 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there could be mold present inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold makes.
How to Solve 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 recommended.
Our Professionals Can Get Rid of Strange Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly
You deserve to be comfortable in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your smelly air conditioner, contact us at 314-325-7552. We’ll figure out the trouble quickly and resolve it at a fair price.