When your air conditioner is spotless and operating right, you shouldn’t be smelling anything weird. Peculiar air conditioner noises and strange smells are a hint that something is out of whack. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had service done recently, they can be a sure sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Bishop.
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, specifically a chemical scent, it isn’t a great sign. You may also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are typically a hint that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can break out over time.
Four Hints You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
Besides the strange smell, here are four other hints that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your home cool or achieving your programmed temperature.
- Increasing energy costs.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak calls for experienced support from a heating and cooling company like Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning. Your cooling professional will pinpoint and fix the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, based on nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how many hours it requires 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 manufactured because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be wisest to schedule air conditioning installation in this instance.
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 good likelihood you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be fatal in big amounts.
How You Can Repair It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home right away.
- Contacting your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Homeowners who reach us regarding this issue frequently report their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also referred to as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is usually caused 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 locations where you need heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later on.
How to Fix It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to regularly 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 unblocked, because excess water can also create nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it could be prompted by several situations, such as:
- A dirty filter
- Excess condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Fix It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t put in a new one within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t solve the smell, call Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning at 760-784-9034.
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 couple of things wrong. These involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that needs lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical issue.
Electrical issues should be examined quickly to avoid a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, turn it off and reach us at 760-784-9034 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there might be mold spreading 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 wellness. That’s why you should have a professional like Bishop Heating & Air Conditioning check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Specialists Can Eliminate Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be cozy in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your stinky air conditioner, reach us at 760-784-9034. We’ll diagnose the problem quickly and resolve it at a reasonable.