When your air conditioner is fresh and operating correctly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything weird. Abnormal air conditioner noises and strange smells are a clue that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had maintenance completed recently, they can be a sure sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Carson City.
Here are six of the most common air conditioner smells and how you can solve them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, especially a chemical smell, it isn’t a great sign. You might also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are often a clue that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can break out as time passes.
Four Hints You Have a Refrigerant Leak
Besides the strange smell, here are four other signs that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner runs.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your home cool or achieving your set temperature.
- Increasing electrical expenses.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak requires experienced repairs from a heating and cooling company like Anderson Heating & A/C. Your cooling pro will find and repair the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak typically 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 long it requires to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, it’s likely it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made because of its negative effects on the ozone layer. As a consequence, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be wisest to consider 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 significant probability you have a natural gas leak in your residence. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be toxic in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Fix It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside right away.
- Contacting your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Homeowners who reach us to report this problem often say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s running. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is typically linked to 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 areas where you use heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later in the day.
How to Solve It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to regularly get a new air filter and schedule routine air conditioning maintenance with Anderson Heating & A/C. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, because excess water can also create unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it can be caused by several problems, such as:
- A filthy filter
- Excess condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve 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, contact Anderson Heating & A/C at 775-230-7628.
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 entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical malfunctions.
Electrical problems should be examined immediately to stop a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is operating, switch it off and reach us at 775-230-7628 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there might be mold growing in your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold creates.
How to Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your wellness. That’s why we recommend having a pro like Anderson Heating & A/C examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Specialists Can Get Rid of Strange Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be comfortable in your residence 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 775-230-7628. We’ll figure out the issue quickly and fix it at a fair price.