When your air conditioner is clean and operating correctly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything odd. Abnormal air conditioner noises and weird smells are a clue that something is off. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had a tune-up completed recently, they can be a sure sign you need professional air conditioning repair in McKinney and Frisco.
Here are six of the top 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, particularly a chemical odor, it isn’t a great sign. You may also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are regularly a hint that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system relies on this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can wear out over time.
Four Signs You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
Aside from the strange smell, here are four other signs that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is on.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your home cool or reaching your desired temperature.
- High electrical costs.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak calls for professional support from a heating and cooling company like Bell Mechanical Services. Your cooling pro will locate and fix the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how much time it needs to repair.
If your air conditioner was installed earlier than 2010, there’s a good chance it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Because of this, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be wisest to schedule 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 significant probability you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, as the gas can be toxic in large amounts.
How You Can Solve It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside as soon as possible.
- Calling your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Homeowners who contact us about this issue frequently 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 often 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 use heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later on.
How to Repair It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to routinely change your air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with Bell Mechanical Services. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, because standing water can also result in noxious 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 the result of several issues, such as:
- A filthy filter
- Too much 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 problem, reach Bell Mechanical Services at 888-863-0560.
5. Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic
If you’re dealing with 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 malfunctions.
Electrical issues should be examined quickly to stop a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, switch it off and call us at 888-863-0560 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there might be mold present inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold creates.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why you should have a specialist like Bell Mechanical Services examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
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 seeking relief from your stinky air conditioner, give us a call at 888-863-0560. We’ll determine the issue quickly and fix it at a competitive.