When your air conditioner is clean and running properly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything odd. Peculiar air conditioner noises and weird smells are a hint that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had a tune-up scheduled lately, they can be an obvious sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Bishop.
Here are six of the most frequent 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, especially a chemical odor, isn’t a great sign. You may also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical smells are frequently a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time passes.
4 Signs You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
Aside from the weird smell, here are four other clues that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is on.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your house cold or achieving your desired temperature.
- High utility bills.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak calls for skilled repairs from a heating and cooling company like Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning. Your cooling pro will locate and fix the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it takes to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, there’s a high probability it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made because of its adverse effects on the ozone layer. As a result, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be wisest to consider air conditioning installation in this instance.
2. Air Conditioner Smells Like Gas
If your air conditioner smells like rotten eggs, there’s probably nothing wrong with it. But there’s a high probability you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be fatal in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Fix It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside promptly.
- Contacting your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who contact us to report this situation often say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is typically created by a dirty 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 typical in locations where you need heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling during the afternoon.
How to Repair It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to frequently replace your air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, as standing water can also lead to noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it might be caused by several situations, like:
- A dirty filter
- Too much condensation
- Clogged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t fix the smell, reach Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning at 760-784-9034.
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 a number of things wrong. These entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical malfunctions.
Electrical issues should be examined quickly to avoid a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, switch it off and contact us at 760-784-9034 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there might be mold flourishing in your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold produces.
How to Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist like Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Professionals Can Take Care of Odd Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be comfortable in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your noxious air conditioner, contact us at 760-784-9034. We’ll determine the problem quickly and take care of it at a competitive.