When your air conditioner is spotless and operating correctly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything strange. Out of the ordinary air conditioner noises and strange smells are a sign that something is off. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had maintenance done lately, they can be a sure sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Odessa.
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 smell, it isn’t a positive sign. You may also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are frequently a hint that your air conditioner is suffering from a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can crack as time passes.
Four Hints You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to the weird smell, here are four other hints that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner runs.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your home cool or achieving your programmed temperature.
- Increasing electrical bills.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak needs professional support from a heating and cooling company like Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning. Your cooling technician will pinpoint and mend the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, based on nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your precise cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how many hours it requires to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, there’s a good chance it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced due to its negative effects on the ozone layer. As a result, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be smartest to do 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 likelihood you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, as the gas can be toxic in large amounts.
How You Can Repair It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home right away.
- Contacting your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who reach us about this problem often say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also known as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is often created 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 common in locations where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling during the afternoon.
How to Solve It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to regularly get a new air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, as excess water can also result in noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it could be prompted by several situations, including:
- A filthy filter
- Excess condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Inspect your filter first. If you haven’t put in a new one within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t solve the smell, contact Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning at 432-237-0168.
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 include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical issue.
Electrical issues should be inspected immediately to prevent a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, switch it off and contact us at 432-237-0168 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong 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 makes.
How to Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why you should have a specialist like Redhawk Heating & Air Conditioning look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Specialists Can Get Rid of Weird Air Conditioner Smells Quickly
You deserve to be comfy in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your smelly air conditioner, give us a call at 432-237-0168. We’ll figure out the problem quickly and take care of it at a reasonable.
