When your air conditioner is fresh and running properly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything odd. Abnormal air conditioner noises and weird smells are a clue that something is up. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had maintenance done within the last year, they can be a clear sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Naples.
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, particularly a chemical scent, isn’t a great sign. You might also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are frequently a hint that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can wear out over time.
4 Clues You Are Dealing with 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 runs.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your residence comfortable or having your desired temperature.
- Higher utility expenses.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak calls for experienced assistance from a heating and cooling company like Speedy Air Conditioning. Your cooling professional will find and fix the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. Your precise 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 early than 2010, there’s a high probability it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured as a result of its adverse effects on the ozone layer. As a result, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be best to consider 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 significant probability you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, because the gas can be fatal in big amounts.
How You Can Solve It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home right away.
- Contacting your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who call us regarding this issue frequently mention their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s running. Also known as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is typically linked to 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 often seen in climates where you use heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later on.
How to Fix It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to routinely get a new air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Speedy Air Conditioning. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, as standing water can also produce noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it can be caused by several situations, including:
- A clogged filter
- Extra condensation
- Clogged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Inspect your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t fix the issue, contact Speedy Air Conditioning at 239-244-3439.
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 entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical malfunctions.
Electrical problems should be inspected immediately to stop a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is operating, shut it off and reach us at 239-244-3439 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there may be mold present in 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 health. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist like Speedy Air Conditioning check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Pros Can Eliminate Weird Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly
You deserve to be comfy 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 239-244-3439. We’ll figure out the problem quickly and fix it at a reasonable.