Why Your Air Conditioner Smells and How to Fix It

When your air conditioner starts emitting strange or unappealing odors, it is necessary to take notice because it could be a sign of a big problem. Disregarding unpleasant smells coming from your air conditioner may lead to further damage to your air conditioning or even pose a risk to your health and safety.

Depending on the cause of the odor, the culprit could be bacteria or fungus in the system. On the other hand, it could also indicate something mechanically wrong with the AC. Some smells are even indicative of an unsafe situation, including a natural gas leak.

At Anderson Heating & A/C, we are skilled at diagnosing and fixing these type of problems. If you smell something weird coming from your cooling system, you can bet that our team of talented professionals has smelled it, too—and fixed it! We’ve earned the reputation as the first call for air conditioning repair in Carson City.

What does a particular smell coming from your cooling system mean? Here are several common air conditioner smells and what they might mean:

My Air Conditioner Smells Like Feet

If your air conditioner smells like feet, it can be due to a buildup of bacteria or fungus in the system. When moisture accumulates inside the unit, it can produce an environment that is beneficial to the spread of bacteria and fungus. This can produce a nasty odor that is often described as smelling like dirty feet.

Another likely reason for an odor of stinky feet could be a dirty air filter. When your HVAC system’s air filter becomes clogged with dirt, dust and other debris, it can result in low air quality and a musty smell that bears a resemblance to feet.

To fix this issue, it’s important to have a quality service tech inspect and clean your air conditioning system, including the evaporator coil, drain pan and condensate drain line. It’s also important to change the air filter on a regular basis to provide good air quality and prevent the growth of bacteria and fungus.

The Air Conditioning Smells Like Rotten Eggs

If your air conditioner smells like rotten eggs, it might be caused by a natural gas leak in the unit or in the surrounding area. Natural gas has a distinct odor, often described as smelling like rotten eggs or sulfur, which is because of a substance added to it to make it easily detectable.

A natural gas leak is extremely dangerous and requires immediate attention. If you suspect a gas leak, turn off your air conditioning system, immediately open windows and doors to ventilate the area, make everyone leave the building and call your gas company or emergency services immediately.

The Air Conditioning Smells Like Mildew

If your cooling system is giving off an odor like mildew, it could be due to a accumulation of moisture inside the unit. When moisture accumulates inside a cooling system, it can foster the growth of mold and mildew. This can cause a musty stench that it similar to mildew.

Another possible reason for the smell may be a dirty air filter. Once the air filter becomes clogged, it can cause poor air quality and a musty smell that is similar to mildew.

Annual air conditioning maintenance from Anderson Heating & A/C can help avoid both of these issues, because a good cleaning, inspection and filter change is a terrific way to keep your system operating at its best!

Your AC Smells Like Urine

One of the most undesirable situations is when the air coming out of your HVAC system smells like urine.

If your air conditioner reeks of urine, it could be traced back to a number of things. One potential cause is a collection of bacteria or mold in the air conditioning system. This can happen if moisture accumulates in the system and creates a damp environment that is conducive to bacterial growth. The bacteria can emit a foul odor that some people describe as smelling like urine.

Another feasible cause of the stink could be a clogged drain line. The condensation that forms inside the air conditioning unit needs to drain away properly, but if the drain line becomes choked with debris, it can cause water to back up and build up inside the unit. This can generate a musty smell that can stink like urine.

Your AC Smells Like Burning Plastic

If your air conditioner smells like burning plastic, this could indicate an electrical concern with the unit. After some time, the electrical parts in the air conditioning system can wear out or break, which can produce a burning smell that resembles plastic.

Another possible cause of the smell could be a foreign object lodged in the unit. If something foreign gets caught in the air conditioning system, it can become hot and result in a smell that reminds people of burning plastic.

If you think you smell burning plastic coming from your AC unit, it’s important to contact a professional right away.

Your AC Smells Like Gas

If your AC smells like gas, it could be due to a natural gas leak in the unit or in your home. Natural gas has a distinct aroma, often described as smelling like rotten eggs or sulfur. That’s because this scent is incorporated into natural gas so that it is easily detectable.

As stated before, a natural gas leak can be VERY dangerous and needs immediate attention. Should you suspect a gas leak, turn off your air conditioning system, open windows and doors to air out the home, leave the building and call your gas company or emergency services right away.

Your AC Smells Like Fish

When your air conditioning equipment smell like fish, you may have a situation where there’s a build-up of bacteria or mold in the unit. Moisture produces an environment that fosters the growth of bacteria and mold. This can cause a strong odor that is sometimes described as smelling like fish or, as mentioned earlier, it also can cause a smell like dirty feet.

Another plausible explanation for the smell could be a dead animal or other biological material caught within the air conditioning system. This often can happen if an animal such as a mouse or bird becomes trapped inside the unit and dies.

To correct the issue, it’s important to have a professional inspect and clean your cooling system. They can determine the source of the smell and take the proper steps to remove any contaminants and keep the problem from recurring.

The Air Conditioning Smells Like Vinegar

There could be multiple reasons a home’s AC smells like vinegar. One possible cause might be a plugged air filter. One other likely cause of the smell may be a refrigerant leak. Sometimes after the refrigerant leaks, it can make a chemical odor that is described as smelling of vinegar.

To fix the issue, it’s important to have a skilled mechanic inspect and clean your air conditioning.  If the odor persists after the cleaning and exchanging the air filter, it’s best to reach back out to a professional to identify and repair any underlying issues with your air conditioning. Or, they can tell you if your air conditioning needs to be replaced.

If you are looking to upgrade, Anderson Heating & A/C can help select the right unit to fit your home’s needs. We deliver reliable, professional air conditioner installation in Carson City.

The Air Conditioning Smells Like Chemicals

If the smell of chemicals is coming out of your air conditioning unit, it could be caused by a refrigerant leak. If the refrigerant leaks, it can create a chemical aroma that is often described as smelling like chemicals or paint thinner, vinegar or acetone.

One other possible source of the smell could be something wrong with the electrical wiring or parts inside the air conditioning system. This can produce a burning smell that is like chemicals or burning plastic.

If you believe there is a refrigerant leak or an electrical problem, it’s important to turn off your air conditioning system as soon as possible and contact a professional to inspect and repair the unit. Refrigerant leaks can be hazardous and may require immediate attention to avoid injury or damage to your home.

Weird Smells Coming from the Air Conditioning? Contact the Experts at Anderson Heating & A/C

If your air conditioner reeks and you aren’t able to fix it simply on your own, call the cooling specialists at Anderson Heating & A/C. We have lots of experience working with a wide variety of HVAC systems. Our crew has fixed many air conditioning concerns over the years—including funky smells. Call us today for quality AC repair in Carson City!