When your air conditioner is clean and operating right, it’s not normal to be smelling anything strange. Out of the ordinary air conditioner noises and odd smells are a clue that something is off. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had a tune-up completed within the last year, they can be a clear sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Pocatello.
Here are six of the most common 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, specifically a chemical smell, 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 frequently a clue that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can break out over time.
Four signs you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
Besides the weird smell, here are four other hints that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your house cool or achieving your desired temperature.
- Higher utility expenses.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak requires experienced repairs from a heating and cooling company like Vogts Heating & Air. Your cooling pro will pinpoint and mend the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, based on nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it needs to repair.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, there’s a high probability it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced as a result of its negative effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be wisest to do 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 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 Fix It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home as soon as possible.
- Getting in touch with your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who contact us to report this problem usually mention their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also known as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is typically 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 often seen in locations where you need heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later in the day.
How to Fix It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to routinely change your air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with Vogts Heating & Air. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, since standing water can also result in noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it can be prompted by several problems, such as:
- A clogged filter
- Excess condensation
- Blocked 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, it’s time to replace it. If that doesn’t fix the issue, reach Vogts Heating & Air at 208-621-0129.
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 several things wrong. These involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that needs lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical problems should be checked right away to stop a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, shut it off and reach us at 208-621-0129 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there might be mold present within your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold makes.
How to Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why you should have a pro like Vogts Heating & Air look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Professionals Can Eliminate Unpleasant 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 looking for relief from your stinky air conditioner, give us a call at 208-621-0129. We’ll diagnose the issue quickly and take care of it at a competitive.