When your air conditioner is spotless and running properly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything strange. Unusual air conditioner noises and strange smells are a hint that something is out of whack. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had service done lately, they can be an obvious sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Rockford.
Here are six of the most frequent 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, particularly a chemical odor, it isn’t a positive sign. You might also report 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 uses this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can crack as time passes.
Four Clues You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
Besides the odd smell, here are four other hints that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner runs.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your house cold or having your desired temperature.
- Higher energy costs.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak calls for experienced support from a heating and cooling company like Temperature Doctors Heating & Cooling. Your cooling specialist will pinpoint and repair the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it requires to repair.
If your air conditioner was installed earlier than 2010, there’s a high probability it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Due to this, repairs can be very expensive so it may be best to consider air conditioning installation in this circumstance.
2. Air Conditioner Smells Like Gas
If your air conditioner smells like rotten eggs, there’s probably nothing wrong with it. But there’s a good probability you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to warn you when there’s a leak, because the gas can be toxic in big amounts.
How You Can Repair It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside promptly.
- Calling your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who call us about this problem frequently report their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s running. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is typically created by a filthy evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Excess water 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 Repair It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to frequently replace your air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with Temperature Doctors Heating & Cooling. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, since stagnant water can also result in 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 prompted by several issues, like:
- A clogged filter
- Too much condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Check 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 smell, call Temperature Doctors Heating & Cooling at (815) 914-6197.
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 inspected quickly to stop a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, shut it off and reach us at (815) 914-6197 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there could be mold growing inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold creates.
How to Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why you should have a pro like Temperature Doctors Heating & Cooling examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Specialists Can Take Care of Weird Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be comfy in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your noxious air conditioner, reach us at (815) 914-6197. We’ll figure out the issue quickly and fix it at a fair price.