When your air conditioner is clean and operating properly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything odd. Unusual air conditioner noises and odd smells are a clue that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had a tune-up scheduled within the last year, they can be an obvious sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Houston.
Here are six of the most common air conditioner smells and how you can resolve them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, especially a chemical scent, it isn’t a great sign. You might also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are often a hint that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can wear out over time.
Four Signs You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to the weird smell, here are four other hints that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner runs.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your house cool or reaching your desired temperature.
- Higher electrical expenses.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak calls for skilled support from a heating and cooling company like 249 Air. Your cooling specialist will pinpoint and mend the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak usually 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 takes to fix.
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 manufactured due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be wisest to do 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 good likelihood 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 toxic in large amounts.
How You Can Repair It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside promptly.
- Getting in touch with your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who reach us to report this problem frequently 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 linked to a dirty 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 use 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 change your air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with 249 Air. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, as stagnant water can also produce noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it could be the result of several situations, including:
- A dirty filter
- Too much condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Fix It
Examine 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 fix the problem, contact 249 Air at 832-263-1969.
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 number of things wrong. These include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical issue.
Electrical malfunctions should be inspected right away to stop a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, turn it off and contact us at 832-263-1969 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering 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 makes.
How to Solve It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why it’s important to have a pro like 249 Air check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Specialists Can Get Rid of Strange Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be comfortable in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your stinky air conditioner, reach us at 832-263-1969. We’ll figure out the problem quickly and resolve it at a competitive.