When your air conditioner is spotless and working correctly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything weird. Abnormal 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 service done recently, they can be a clear sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Mount Pleasant.
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, 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 odors are often a sign that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system relies on this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can crack as time goes on.
Four signs you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
Aside from the strange smell, here are four other hints that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner runs.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your residence cold or reaching your desired temperature.
- High electrical costs.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak needs experienced repairs from a heating and cooling company like Olde Towne Heating & Air. Your cooling technician will find and mend the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it takes to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed early than 2010, it’s likely it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a consequence, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be smartest to consider 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 likelihood you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to warn you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be deadly in big amounts.
How You Can Solve It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside right away.
- Calling your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Homeowners who contact us to report this situation usually say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is typically 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 often seen in locations where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later on.
How to Solve It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to routinely change your air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Olde Towne Heating & Air. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, as standing water can also produce unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it could be the result of several problems, like:
- A clogged filter
- Excess condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Examine 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, contact Olde Towne Heating & Air at 843-485-0967.
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 several things wrong. These involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical problem.
Electrical issues should be checked right away to prevent a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, turn it off and call us at 843-485-0967 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful 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 we recommend having a pro like Olde Towne Heating & Air look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Professionals Can Take Care of Strange Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly.
You deserve to be comfortable in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your noxious air conditioner, reach us at 843-485-0967. We’ll determine the problem quickly and resolve it at a fair price.