When your air conditioner is spotless and working right, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything weird. Unusual air conditioner noises and weird smells are a sign that something is up. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had maintenance completed within the last year, they can be a clear sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Belton.
Here are six of the top air conditioner smells and how you can repair 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 great sign. You might also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are regularly a clue that your air conditioner is suffering from a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can break out over time.
Four clues you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
Besides the odd smell, here are four other clues that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your home cold or having your desired temperature.
- Increasing energy costs.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak requires professional assistance from a heating and cooling company like Myers Furnace Company. Your cooling technician will locate and fix the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, based on 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 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 produced as a result of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Because of this, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be best to consider air conditioning installation in this instance.
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 significant chance you have a natural gas leak in your residence. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to warn you when there’s a leak, as the gas can be fatal in big amounts.
How You Can Fix It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside promptly.
- Getting in touch with your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Homeowners who contact us about this issue often mention their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also referred to as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is frequently caused by a grubby 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 often seen 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 approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to routinely get a new air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with Myers Furnace Company. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, since stagnant water can also lead to noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it might be prompted by several problems, such as:
- A clogged filter
- Too much condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Examine your filter first. If you haven’t put in a new one within the last three months and can’t see light through it, it’s time to replace it. If that doesn’t solve the problem, reach Myers Furnace Company at 816-249-1619.
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 involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical problem.
Electrical problems should be checked right away to prevent a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, turn it off and contact us at 816-249-1619 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there may be mold growing inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold produces.
How to Solve It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why you should have a specialist like Myers Furnace Company check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Professionals Can Eliminate Weird Air Conditioner Smells Quickly.
You deserve to be cozy in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your smelly air conditioner, reach us at 816-249-1619. We’ll figure out the trouble quickly and fix it at a fair price.