When your air conditioner is spotless and working properly, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything strange. Unexpected air conditioner noises and strange smells are a sign that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had a tune-up scheduled lately, they can be a clear sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Laurel.
Here are six of the most frequent air conditioner smells and how you can repair them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, specifically a chemical smell, it isn’t a great sign. You may also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are frequently a clue that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system relies on this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can break out over time.
Four hints you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
In addition to the strange smell, here are four other clues 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 house cold or achieving your programmed temperature.
- Higher energy bills.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak needs experienced assistance from a heating and cooling company like H&C Heating and Cooling. Your cooling professional will find and mend the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak usually 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 much time it requires to repair.
If your air conditioner was installed early than 2010, there’s a high probability it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made because of its negative effects on the ozone layer. As a result, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be best to do 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 probability you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, as the gas can be fatal in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Solve It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside as soon as possible.
- Getting in touch with your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who call us regarding this problem usually say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also known as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is typically linked to a grubby evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Moisture can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most common in climates where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later in the day.
How to Fix It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to regularly get a new air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with H&C Heating and Cooling. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, as excess water can also lead to nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it could be caused by several problems, such as:
- A filthy filter
- Excess condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, you should replace it. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, reach H&C Heating and Cooling at 301-960-3247.
5. Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic
If you’re dealing with an air conditioner burning smell or that your air conditioner smells like fish, there could be a couple of things wrong. These entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that needs lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical problem.
Electrical problems should be checked quickly to prevent a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is operating, turn it off and contact us at 301-960-3247 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there might be mold spreading inside 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 well-being. That’s why it’s important to have a pro like H&C Heating and Cooling check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Pros Can Take Care of Weird Air Conditioner Smells Quickly.
You deserve to be cozy in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your noxious air conditioner, reach us at 301-960-3247. We’ll diagnose the issue quickly and fix it at a competitive.