When your air conditioner is spotless and running properly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything odd. Out of the ordinary air conditioner noises and odd smells are a hint that something is off. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had a tune-up scheduled within the last year, they can be a clear sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Marshalltown.
Here are six of the most frequent 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, especially a chemical scent, it isn’t a great sign. You might also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are frequently 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 passes.
Four signs you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
Besides the weird smell, here are four other clues that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is cooling.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your home comfortable or having your set temperature.
- Increasing electrical bills.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak requires professional assistance from a heating and cooling company like B & G HVAC. Your cooling technician will locate and mend the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak typically costs between $225 and $1,600, based on nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how much time it takes to repair.
If your air conditioner was installed early than 2010, there’s a good chance it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made 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 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 house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be fatal in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Fix It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside promptly.
- Calling your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who contact us regarding this situation often share 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 usually caused by a filthy 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 climates where you need heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later in the day.
How to Repair It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to regularly change your air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with B & G HVAC. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, because excess water can also result in noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it can be prompted by several problems, like:
- A filthy filter
- Too much condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Fix It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t solve the smell, reach B & G HVAC at 641-316-3360.
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 a couple of things wrong. These entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical malfunction.
Electrical problems should be inspected right away to avoid a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is operating, turn it off and call us at 641-316-3360 immediately.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there might be mold flourishing within 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 well-being. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist like B & G HVAC look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Specialists Can Take Care of Strange Air Conditioner Smells Fast.
You deserve to be comfortable in your house 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 641-316-3360. We’ll diagnose the problem quickly and resolve it at a competitive.
