When your air conditioner is fresh and running correctly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything strange. Peculiar air conditioner noises and strange smells are a hint that something is up. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had a tune-up scheduled lately, they can be a clear sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Macon.
Here are six of the most common air conditioner smells and how you can solve them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, specifically a chemical smell, isn’t a great sign. You could also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are frequently a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time passes.
4 Hints You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
Besides the strange smell, here are four other hints that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is on.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your home cold or reaching your programmed temperature.
- Higher energy bills.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak needs experienced support from a heating and cooling company like Air Temperature Control. Your cooling pro will pinpoint and mend the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it needs to repair.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it’s likely it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a consequence, repairs can be very expensive so it may be wisest 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 high chance you have a natural gas leak in your home. 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 Repair It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home as soon as possible.
- Contacting your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Homeowners who reach us to report this issue often say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also referred to as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is frequently linked to 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 need heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later on.
How to Solve It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to frequently change your air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with Air Temperature Control. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, since stagnant water can also lead to nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it might be prompted by several situations, including:
- A dirty filter
- Too much condensation
- Clogged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Repair 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 fix the smell, call Air Temperature Control at 478-202-3170.
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 entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical problem.
Electrical issues should be inspected immediately to stop a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, switch it off and call us at 478-202-3170 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there might be mold spreading 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 health. That’s why we recommend having a specialist like Air Temperature Control check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Professionals Can Eliminate Odd Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be comfortable in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your stinky air conditioner, give us a call at 478-202-3170. We’ll figure out the trouble quickly and take care of it at a reasonable.