Six Common Air Conditioner Smells Decoded and How to Solve Them

When your air conditioner is spotless and operating properly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything strange. Peculiar air conditioner noises and weird smells are a sign that something is off. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had maintenance done lately, they can be a clear sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Naples.

Here are six of the most frequent 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, especially a chemical odor, it isn’t a great sign. You could also report your:

• Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
• Home air conditioner smells sweet

These sweet, chemical smells are frequently a clue that your air conditioner is suffering from a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can break out over time.

Four hints you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.

In addition to the strange smell, here are four other signs that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.

1. Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is cooling.
2. Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
3. It’s hard keeping your home comfortable or reaching your set temperature.
4. Higher energy bills.

How You Can Fix It

A refrigerant leak needs experienced repairs from a heating and cooling company like Speedy Air Conditioning. Your cooling pro will locate and repair the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.

Resolving a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how much time it needs to repair.

If your air conditioner was installed early than 2010, there’s a high probability it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, 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 likely nothing wrong with it. But there’s a high probability you have a natural gas leak in your residence. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be fatal in heavy concentrations.

How You Can Solve It

If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:

• Switching off your gas supply.
• Opening windows.
• Going outside as soon as possible.
• Calling your gas company without delay.

3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty

People who reach us about this situation frequently say 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 often caused by a filthy 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 use heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later in the day.

How to Repair It

The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to regularly 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, since excess water can also produce unpleasant odors.

4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar

If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it could be caused by several issues, like:

• A dirty filter
• Too much condensation
• Blocked condensate pan or drain line
• Moldy air conditioner or ductwork

How to Repair 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, you should replace it. If that doesn’t fix the issue, call Speedy Air Conditioning at 239-244-3439.

5. Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic

If you’re experiencing 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 malfunction.

Electrical issues should be inspected right away to stop a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, turn it off and contact us at 239-244-3439 right away.

6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee

A strong ammonia odor means there might be mold present inside 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 wellness. That’s why it’s important to have a pro like Speedy Air Conditioning check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.

Our Professionals Can Take Care of Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly.

You deserve to be comfortable in your home 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 diagnose the problem quickly and fix it at a competitive.