When your air conditioner is spotless and working properly, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything weird. Abnormal air conditioner noises and strange smells are a clue that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had service done lately, they can be an obvious sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Moline.
Here are six of the most common air conditioner smells and how you can fix them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, especially 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 scents are often a hint that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can break out as time passes.
Four clues you have a refrigerant leak.
Besides the strange smell, here are four other hints 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.
- Trouble keeping your residence cold or having your desired temperature.
- Higher energy expenses.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak calls for professional support from a heating and cooling company like Freed Heating & Air Conditioning. Your cooling pro will locate and fix the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages put together 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 prior to 2010, there’s a high probability it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured because of its adverse effects on the ozone layer. Because of this, repairs can be very expensive so it may be smartest 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 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, since the gas can be toxic in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Fix It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home promptly.
- Contacting your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who call us regarding this problem usually say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s running. Also referred to as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is frequently linked to 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 climates where you use heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling during the afternoon.
How to Repair It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to regularly change your air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with Freed Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, because stagnant water can also create noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it might be prompted by several issues, such as:
- A dirty filter
- Excess condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Fix It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, you should replace it. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, contact Freed Heating & Air Conditioning at 309-323-9584.
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 include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that needs lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical issues should be inspected quickly to avoid a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, turn it off and contact us at 309-323-9584 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering 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 makes.
How to Solve It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your wellness. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist like Freed Heating & Air Conditioning examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Professionals Can Eliminate Odd Air Conditioner Smells Quickly.
You deserve to be comfy in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your noxious air conditioner, reach us at 309-323-9584. We’ll determine the trouble quickly and take care of it at a reasonable.