When your air conditioner is spotless and running properly, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything odd. Unusual air conditioner noises and strange smells are a clue that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had a tune-up scheduled recently, they can be a sure sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Cambridge.
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 good sign. You could also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are regularly a hint that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can break out as time goes on.
Four signs 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 operating.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your house cool or achieving your set temperature.
- Higher energy expenses.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak needs skilled support from a heating and cooling company like Pliescott HVAC Services LLC. Your cooling professional will pinpoint and repair 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 total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how many hours it needs to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, there’s a good chance it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be best to schedule 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 significant 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 toxic in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Fix It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside promptly.
- Calling your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who contact us regarding this problem usually report their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s running. Also known as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is typically 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 common in locations where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling during the afternoon.
How to Repair It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to regularly replace your air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Pliescott HVAC Services LLC. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, as standing water can also lead to 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 prompted by several problems, like:
- A dirty filter
- Excess condensation
- Clogged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Repair It
Check 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 issue, call Pliescott HVAC Services LLC at 410-228-4822.
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 a couple of things wrong. These involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that needs lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical problem.
Electrical problems should be examined quickly to avoid a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, switch it off and reach us at 410-228-4822 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful 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 produces.
How to Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why you should have a pro like Pliescott HVAC Services LLC look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Pros Can Eliminate Odd Air Conditioner Smells Quickly.
You deserve to be comfy in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your smelly air conditioner, contact us at 410-228-4822. We’ll diagnose the trouble quickly and take care of it at a competitive.