When your air conditioner starts spewing strange or gross aromas, it is a good idea to take notice because it could be a sign of a major problem. Disregarding unpleasant smells coming from your cooling system could lead to further damage to your AC or even pose a risk to your health and safety.

Depending on the cause of the odor, the culprit could be bacteria or fungus in the system. Other times, it could also signal something mechanically wrong with the air conditioner. Some smells are even indicative of a dangerous situation, including a natural gas leak.

At Myers Furnace Company, we have a nose for these sorts of things. If you smell something odd coming from your air conditioner, chances are our team of talented specialists has smelled it, too—and fixed it! We’ve earned a reputation as the go-to team for air conditioning repair in Belton.

What does a particular smell coming out of your AC mean? Here are some frequent air conditioner odors and what they may mean:

My Air Conditioner Smells Like Feet

If your air conditioner smells like feet, it could be caused by a buildup of bacteria or fungus in the system. When moisture collects inside the unit, it can produce an environment that is favorable to the growth of bacteria and fungus. This can result in a nasty odor that is often described as smelling like dirty feet.

Another potential explanation for the smell may be a dirty air filter. When your HVAC system’s air filter becomes filled with dirt, dust and other contaminants, it can lead to poor air quality and a musty smell that bears a resemblance to feet.

To solve this unpleasant situation, it’s important to have an experienced specialist inspect and clean your air conditioning system, including the evaporator coil, drain pan and condensate drain line. It’s also important to change the air filter on a regular basis to promote good air quality and protect against the growth of bacteria and fungus.

The Air Conditioning Smells Like Rotten Eggs

If your reeks of rotten eggs, it could be due to a natural gas leak in the unit or in the surrounding area. Natural gas has a unique odor, often described as smelling like rotten eggs or sulfur, which is added to it to make it easily detectable.

A natural gas leak is extremely dangerous and requires immediate attention. If you suspect a gas leak, turn off your air conditioning system, immediately open windows and doors to allow gas to escape the area, evacuate the building and call your gas company or emergency services immediately.

My Air Conditioner Smells Like Mildew

If your cooling system emits a smell like mildew, it may be due to a buildup of moisture inside the unit. When moisture forms inside the air conditioning system, it can promote the growth of mold and mildew. This can cause a musty odor that bears a resemblance to mildew.

Another possible cause of the smell might be a clogged air filter. When the air filter becomes clogged, it can cause poor air quality and a musty smell that has a resemblance to mildew.

Annual air conditioning maintenance from Myers Furnace Company can help avoid both of these issues, because a good cleaning, inspection and filter change is a terrific way to keep your system working at its best!

Your AC Smells Like Urine

One of the most unpleasant scenarios is when your AC smells like urine.

If your air conditioning equipment reeks of urine, it could be traced back to a number of things. One likely cause is a accumulation of bacteria or mold in the air conditioning system. This can happen in the event that moisture accumulates in the system and creates a moist environment that is conducive to bacterial growth. The bacteria can emit a foul odor that is like urine.

Another possible cause of the smell could be a blocked drain line. The condensation that forms inside the air conditioning unit needs to drain away properly, but if the drain line becomes filled with debris, it can cause water to back up and accumulate inside the unit. This can generate a musty smell that resembles urine.

My Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic

If your air conditioning system smells like burning plastic, this could indicate an electrical issue with the unit. After a while, the electrical parts in the air conditioning system can wear out or break, which can produce a burning smell that resembles plastic.

Another possible cause of the smell could be a foreign object lodged in the HVAC system. If something foreign gets trapped in the air conditioning system, it can become hot and cause a smell like burning plastic.

If you notice something that smells like burning plastic coming from your cooling system, it’s important to call a professional right away.

My Air Conditioner Smells Like Gas

If your air conditioner smells like gas, it could be due to a natural gas leak in the unit or in another part of your home. Natural gas has a distinct aroma, often described as smelling similar to rotten eggs or sulfur. That’s because a smell is added to natural gas so that it is easily detectable.

As we said before, a natural gas leak can be VERY hazardous and calls for immediate attention. When you suspect a gas leak, turn off your air conditioning system, open windows and doors to air out the home, leave the building and phone your gas company or emergency services right away.

The Air Conditioning Smells Like Fish

Should your air conditioner smell like fish, you may have a situation where there’s a build-up of bacteria or mold in the unit. Moisture produces an environment that is conducive to the growth of bacteria and mold. This can cause a strong odor that is often described as smelling like fish or, as mentioned earlier, it also can create a smell like dirty feet.

Another potential cause of the smell could be a dead animal or other biological material caught inside the air conditioning system. This often can happen if an animal such as a mouse or bird becomes trapped inside the unit and dies.

To fix the issue, it’s important to have a professional inspect and clean your HVAC system. They can find the source of the smell and take the correct steps to remove any contaminants and prevent the problem from recurring.

Your AC Smells Like Vinegar

There could be several reasons an AC smells like vinegar. One possible cause is a dirty air filter. Another likely cause of the smell might be a refrigerant leak. Sometimes after the refrigerant leaks, it can generate a chemical odor that is described as smelling of vinegar.

To fix the issue, it’s important to have a skilled mechanic inspect and clean your air conditioning.  If the odor continues after the cleaning and changing of the air filter, it’s best to reach back out to a professional to diagnose and repair any hidden issues with your air conditioning. Or, the mechanic can tell you if your air conditioning should be replaced.

If you are looking to upgrade, Myers Furnace Company can help find the correct unit to fit your home’s needs. We provide dependable, skilled air conditioner installation in Belton.

The Air Conditioning Smells Like Chemicals

If the smell of chemicals is emitting out of your air conditioner, it could be due to a refrigerant leak. In a situation where the refrigerant leaks, it can create a chemical aroma that is often described as smelling like chemicals or paint thinner, vinegar or acetone.

Another possible reason for the smell could be problems with the electrical wiring or components inside the air conditioning system. This can result in a burning smell that is like chemicals or burning plastic.

If you suspect a refrigerant leak or an electrical issue, it’s important to turn off your air conditioning system immediately and contact a professional to inspect and repair the unit. Refrigerant leaks can be dangerous and may require immediate attention to prevent injury or damage to your house.

Weird Smells Coming from Your Cooling? Call the Pros at Myers Furnace Company

If your air conditioner reeks and you aren’t able to fix it easily on your own, contact the cooling experts at Myers Furnace Company. We have plenty of experience working with a wide variety of air conditioning systems. Our crew has fixed a multitude of air conditioning problems throughout the years—including weird smells. Call us today for quality AC repair in Belton!