When your air conditioner is fresh and working properly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything weird. Peculiar air conditioner noises and odd smells are a sign that something is off. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had maintenance completed recently, they can be an obvious sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Los Angeles.
Here are six of the top 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 odor, 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 often a sign that your air conditioner is suffering from a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can crack over time.
Four signs you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
Aside from the odd smell, here are four other clues that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your residence cold or reaching your desired temperature.
- Higher energy bills.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak calls for professional assistance from a heating and cooling company like AZ Air Conditioning and Heating. Your cooling specialist will locate and mend the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak typically 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 much time it requires to repair.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, there’s a good chance it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made due to its adverse effects on the ozone layer. Because of this, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be wisest to consider air conditioning installation in this situation.
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 chance you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, as the gas can be deadly in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Fix It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home as soon as possible.
- Calling your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who reach us about this problem usually say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s running. Also referred to as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is often linked to a grubby evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Condensation can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most typical in areas where you need heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling during the afternoon.
How to Repair It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to routinely change your air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with AZ Air Conditioning and Heating. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, as standing water can also lead to nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it can be caused by several situations, like:
- A filthy filter
- Excess condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Inspect your filter first. If you haven’t put in a new one within the last three months and can’t see light through it, it’s time to replace it. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, call AZ Air Conditioning and Heating at 800-296-5088.
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 entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that needs lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical problems should be checked right away to prevent a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, shut it off and reach us at 800-296-5088 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there could 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 it’s important to have a professional like AZ Air Conditioning and Heating check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Specialists Can Eliminate Strange Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly.
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 800-296-5088. We’ll figure out the problem quickly and fix it at a competitive.