When your air conditioner is spotless and working right, you shouldn’t be smelling anything weird. Peculiar air conditioner noises and strange smells are a sign that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had service scheduled within the last year, they can be a clear sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Carson City.
Here are six of the most frequent air conditioner smells and how you can resolve them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, especially a chemical odor, it isn’t a positive sign. You might also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are typically a clue that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time passes.
Four hints you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
Besides the odd smell, here are four other hints that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is cooling.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your house cold or reaching your programmed temperature.
- Increasing utility bills.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak needs experienced support from a heating and cooling company like Anderson Heating & A/C. Your cooling specialist will find and repair the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your precise cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how many hours it needs to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, it’s likely it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made as a result of its negative effects on the ozone layer. As a consequence, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be wisest to schedule air conditioning installation in this situation.
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 high 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, because the gas can be fatal in large amounts.
How You Can Solve It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home as soon as possible.
- Calling your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who call us to report this issue often share their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s running. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is frequently caused 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 areas where you need heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later in the day.
How to Fix It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to routinely replace your air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Anderson Heating & A/C. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, since stagnant water can also create nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it can be the result of several situations, including:
- A clogged filter
- Excess condensation
- Clogged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Examine 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 smell, call Anderson Heating & A/C at 775-854-9700.
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 involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical malfunctions should be inspected immediately to avoid a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, switch it off and reach us at 775-854-9700 immediately.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there may be mold growing inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold produces.
How to Solve It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why you should have a pro like Anderson Heating & A/C check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Specialists Can Take Care of Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly.
You deserve to be comfortable in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your smelly air conditioner, contact us at 775-854-9700. We’ll figure out the issue quickly and take care of it at a competitive.