When your air conditioner is clean and running right, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything weird. Abnormal air conditioner noises and weird smells are a clue that something is out of whack. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had maintenance scheduled within the last year, they can be a clear sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Wyandotte.
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, specifically a chemical scent, it isn’t a good sign. You could also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical smells are typically a hint that your air conditioner is suffering from a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can break out as time goes on.
Four Signs You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
Aside from the odd 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.
- Difficulty keeping your home cool or having your programmed temperature.
- High electrical expenses.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak requires skilled assistance from a heating and cooling company like Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning. Your cooling technician will find and mend the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak typically costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how many hours it takes to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it’s likely it has 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 extremely expensive so it may be wisest to schedule air conditioning installation in this situation.
2. Air Conditioner Smells Like Gas
If your air conditioner smells like rotten eggs, there’s possibly 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 deadly in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Fix It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside right away.
- Contacting your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Homeowners who contact us about this situation often share their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s running. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is usually created 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 common in locations where you need heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling during the afternoon.
How to Solve It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to frequently change your air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, as stagnant water can also create nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it could be caused by several problems, including:
- A clogged filter
- Too much condensation
- Clogged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Fix 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, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, reach Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning at 734-284-1224.
5. Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic
If you’re noticing an air conditioner burning smell or that your air conditioner smells like fish, there could be a number of things wrong. These entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical malfunctions should be checked immediately to stop a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, turn it off and contact us at 734-284-1224 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there may be mold present within your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold produces.
How to Solve It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why we recommend having a specialist like Gee & Missler Heating & Air Conditioning look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Professionals Can Get Rid of Weird Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly
You deserve to be comfortable in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your stinky air conditioner, contact us at 734-284-1224. We’ll diagnose the problem quickly and take care of it at a fair price.
