When your air conditioner is spotless and running right, it’s not normal to be smelling anything strange. Out of the ordinary air conditioner noises and weird smells are a hint that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had service done lately, they can be an obvious sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Muldrow.
Here are six of the top air conditioner smells and how you can repair 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 odors are often a hint that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can crack as time passes.
Four clues you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
In addition to the strange smell, here are four other hints that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your house cold or achieving your programmed temperature.
- High electrical costs.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak requires professional repairs from a heating and cooling company like Air Service Co.. Your cooling specialist will locate and fix the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak typically 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 much time it needs to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, there’s a high probability it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured due to its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Because of this, repairs can be very expensive so it may be smartest to consider 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 significant chance you have a natural gas leak in your residence. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, because the gas can be fatal in large amounts.
How You Can Repair It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home promptly.
- Getting in touch with your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who contact us to report this issue frequently report their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is frequently created by a grubby evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Condensation can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most often seen in locations where you use heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later in the day.
How to Repair It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to regularly get a new air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with Air Service Co.. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, as excess water can also create unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it could be prompted by several problems, including:
- A clogged filter
- Extra condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve 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, you should replace it. If that doesn’t fix the issue, reach Air Service Co. at 918-212-8943.
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 a couple of things wrong. These involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical malfunction.
Electrical malfunctions should be examined right away to prevent a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, shut it off and contact us at 918-212-8943 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there might be mold spreading within 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 health. That’s why we recommend having a professional like Air Service Co. check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Specialists Can Take Care of Odd Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly.
You deserve to be cozy in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your stinky air conditioner, give us a call at 918-212-8943. We’ll diagnose the trouble quickly and fix it at a fair price.
