When your air conditioner is spotless and working correctly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything weird. Peculiar air conditioner noises and strange smells are a sign that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had a tune-up scheduled within the last year, they can be a sure sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Huntingburg.
Here are six of the top 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 scent, it isn’t a good sign. You might also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are often a sign that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time passes.
Four Signs You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to the odd smell, here are four other signs that you are dealing with 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 comfortable or reaching your set temperature.
- Higher energy expenses.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak needs professional repairs from a heating and cooling company like Dearing's Service & Solutions. Your cooling technician will locate and fix the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your exact 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 prior to 2010, there’s a good chance it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Due to this, repairs can be very expensive so it may be wisest to do air conditioning installation in this circumstance.
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 high chance you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, because the gas can be toxic in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Solve It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home right away.
- Calling your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who call us about this problem usually say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is typically caused by a dirty evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Condensation 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 Solve It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to regularly change your air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with Dearing's Service & Solutions. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, because excess water can also create nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it might be caused by several issues, such as:
- A filthy filter
- Extra condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t fix the issue, reach Dearing's Service & Solutions at 812-200-5844.
5. Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic
If you’re noticing an air conditioner burning smell or that your air conditioner smells like fish, there could be several things wrong. These include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that needs lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical problem.
Electrical problems should be inspected immediately to prevent a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is operating, switch it off and contact us at 812-200-5844 immediately.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there could be mold flourishing inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold produces.
How to Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why you should have a pro like Dearing's Service & Solutions examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Specialists Can Get Rid of Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Quickly
You deserve to be cozy in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your noxious air conditioner, give us a call at 812-200-5844. We’ll determine the problem quickly and take care of it at a fair price.