When your air conditioner is fresh and working right, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything weird. Peculiar air conditioner noises and strange smells are a clue that something is off. If your air conditioner is getting older or you haven’t had service completed within the last year, they can be a clear sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Wilmington.
Here are six of the most common 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 positive sign. You may also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are frequently a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can break out over time.
Four Hints You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
Aside from the strange smell, here are four other clues that you are dealing with 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 house comfortable or having your programmed temperature.
- Higher energy bills.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak requires skilled repairs from a heating and cooling company like Ambience HVAC, Inc.. Your cooling specialist will find and fix the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. Your total 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 earlier than 2010, there’s a good chance it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured because of its negative effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be best to schedule air conditioning installation in this circumstance.
2. Air Conditioner Smells Like Gas
If your air conditioner smells like rotten eggs, there’s likely nothing wrong with it. But there’s a good probability you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to warn you when there’s a leak, as the gas can be deadly in big amounts.
How You Can Fix It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home as soon as possible.
- Contacting your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who reach us regarding this situation frequently share their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s running. Also known as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is typically 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 common in areas where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later in the day.
How to Fix It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to frequently change your air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Ambience HVAC, Inc.. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, as excess water can also result in nasty 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 caused by several issues, like:
- A filthy filter
- Excess condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, you should replace it. If that doesn’t resolve the smell, reach Ambience HVAC, Inc. at 302-239-HVAC (4822).
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 number of things wrong. These entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical problems should be inspected quickly to avoid a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, turn it off and contact us at 302-239-HVAC (4822) without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there may be mold growing in your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold creates.
How to Solve It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why we recommend having a pro like Ambience HVAC, Inc. look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Professionals Can Get Rid of Weird Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly
You deserve to be comfy in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your smelly air conditioner, give us a call at 302-239-HVAC (4822). We’ll determine the trouble quickly and fix it at a competitive.