When your air conditioner is spotless and running right, you shouldn’t be smelling anything strange. Out of the ordinary air conditioner noises and weird smells are a sign that something is off. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had maintenance scheduled lately, they can be a clear sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Crystal and Twin Cities.
Here are six of the most common 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, isn’t a positive sign. You might also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are often a hint that your air conditioner is suffering from a refrigerant leak. Your system relies on this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can crack as time goes on.
4 Clues You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
Aside from the odd smell, here are four other clues that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is cooling.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your home cool or achieving your desired temperature.
- Increasing energy costs.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak calls for experienced support from a heating and cooling company like GV Heating & Air. Your cooling technician will find and mend the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak typically costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it needs to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, there’s a good chance it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made as a result of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, repairs can be extremely 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 warn you when there’s a leak, because the gas can be deadly in big amounts.
How You Can Repair It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home promptly.
- Contacting your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who call us regarding this issue frequently share their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also known as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is frequently created by a grubby 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 turn on heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later on.
How to Repair It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to routinely change your air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with GV Heating & Air. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, because excess water can also produce nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it can be the result of several issues, including:
- A dirty filter
- Too much condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Repair It
Inspect your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, contact GV Heating & Air at 763-535-2000.
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 trouble.
Electrical problems should be inspected right away to prevent a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, turn it off and call us at 763-535-2000 immediately.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there may be mold flourishing within your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold makes.
How to Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist like GV Heating & Air examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Professionals Can Take Care of Weird Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly
You deserve to be comfortable in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your smelly air conditioner, contact us at 763-535-2000. We’ll figure out the trouble quickly and fix it at a fair price.