When your air conditioner is fresh and operating right, you shouldn’t be smelling anything odd. Unusual air conditioner noises and weird smells are a clue that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had service done recently, they can be a clear sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Cottonwood & Prescott.
Here are six of the top 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 good sign. You may also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are often a sign that your air conditioner is suffering from a refrigerant leak. Your system relies on this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time passes.
Four Signs You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
Aside from the odd smell, here are four other hints that you are experiencing 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 home cool or reaching your set temperature.
- Higher electrical expenses.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak requires experienced repairs from a heating and cooling company like Connolly Electric & Mechanical. Your cooling professional will locate and fix 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 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 before 2010, it’s likely it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made as a result of its negative effects on the ozone layer. Due to this, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be smartest to consider air conditioning installation in this circumstance.
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 good likelihood you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to warn you when there’s a leak, because the gas can be toxic in big amounts.
How You Can Fix It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside right away.
- Contacting your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who reach us regarding this issue often say 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 frequently created 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 turn on heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later in the day.
How to Repair It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to frequently get a new air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with Connolly Electric & Mechanical. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, because stagnant water can also produce noxious 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 prompted by several situations, like:
- A clogged filter
- Too much condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Fix It
Inspect your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, call Connolly Electric & Mechanical at 928-251-4327.
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 involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical issue.
Electrical malfunctions should be inspected quickly to prevent a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is operating, switch it off and contact us at 928-251-4327 immediately.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there could be mold flourishing in 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 you should have a specialist like Connolly Electric & Mechanical check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Professionals Can Get Rid of Odd Air Conditioner Smells Quickly
You deserve to be cozy in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your stinky air conditioner, contact us at 928-251-4327. We’ll diagnose the problem quickly and fix it at a competitive.
