When your air conditioner is spotless and operating right, you shouldn’t be smelling anything weird. Unusual air conditioner noises and strange smells are a hint that something is off. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had maintenance completed within the last year, they can be a clear sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Magnolia.
Here are six of the top air conditioner smells and how you can fix 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 great sign. You may also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical smells are typically a hint that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can break out over time.
Four hints you are experiencing 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 is cooling.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your residence cool or having your programmed temperature.
- Higher energy bills.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak requires professional assistance from a heating and cooling company like JTech Mechanical. Your cooling pro will find and mend the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. Your precise 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 high probability it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made due to its adverse effects on the ozone layer. Because of this, repairs can be very expensive so it may be best to schedule air conditioning installation in this instance.
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 good 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 fatal in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Solve It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home right away.
- Contacting your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who reach us to report this situation usually mention 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 created by a dirty 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 climates where you need heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later on.
How to Fix It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to regularly change your air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with JTech Mechanical. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, since stagnant water can also produce noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it could be prompted by several issues, such as:
- A dirty filter
- Too much condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Repair It
Inspect your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, you should replace it. If that doesn’t fix the problem, reach JTech Mechanical at 281-231-8768.
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 a couple of things wrong. These entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that needs lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical malfunctions should be checked right away to avoid a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, switch it off and reach us at 281-231-8768 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there may be mold present inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold produces.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why you should have a specialist like JTech Mechanical examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Specialists Can Eliminate Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Fast.
You deserve to be comfortable in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your smelly air conditioner, contact us at 281-231-8768. We’ll diagnose the problem quickly and resolve it at a fair price.