When your air conditioner is fresh and operating right, you shouldn’t be smelling anything strange. Unexpected air conditioner noises and odd smells are a clue that something is out of whack. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had a tune-up completed lately, they can be a clear sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Lexington.
Here are six of the top 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, specifically a chemical odor, it isn’t a great sign. You might also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are typically a hint that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can crack as time goes on.
Four hints you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
Aside from the weird 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.
- It’s hard keeping your house cold or having your desired temperature.
- High energy bills.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak requires professional repairs from a heating and cooling company like James Heating & A/C, Inc. Your cooling professional will find and repair the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak often 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 many hours it needs to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, it’s likely it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made because of its negative effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be smartest to do air conditioning installation in this circumstance.
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 probability you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, because the gas can be fatal in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Solve It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home right away.
- Contacting your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who call us to report this problem often report their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also referred to as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is often created by a filthy evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Moisture can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most typical in locations where you use heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later on.
How to Repair It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to routinely replace your air filter and schedule routine air conditioning maintenance with James Heating & A/C, Inc. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, since standing water can also lead to nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it might be prompted by several issues, such as:
- A filthy filter
- Extra condensation
- Clogged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Repair It
Examine your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, it’s time to replace it. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, reach James Heating & A/C, Inc at 336-853-6070.
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 entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical problem.
Electrical problems should be examined immediately to stop a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, shut it off and reach us at 336-853-6070 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there may be mold spreading within your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold creates.
How to Solve It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why it’s important to have a pro like James Heating & A/C, Inc examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Specialists Can Get Rid of Strange Air Conditioner Smells Quickly.
You deserve to be comfortable in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your smelly air conditioner, reach us at 336-853-6070. We’ll determine the issue quickly and resolve it at a fair price.
