When your air conditioner is spotless and working properly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything strange. Peculiar air conditioner noises and strange smells are a sign that something is off. If your air conditioner is getting older or you haven’t had service done recently, they can be an obvious sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Port St. Lucie.
Here are six of the top 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 odor, it isn’t a positive sign. You could also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are frequently 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 as time passes.
Four Clues You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
Besides the odd smell, here are four other hints that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner runs.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your home cold or having your programmed temperature.
- Higher electrical expenses.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak requires skilled support from a heating and cooling company like Custom Air Systems Inc. Your cooling technician will locate and mend the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, per 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 takes to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed earlier than 2010, it’s likely it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a result, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be best to do air conditioning installation in this situation.
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 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 fatal in big amounts.
How You Can Solve It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home as soon as possible.
- Getting in touch with your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who reach us about this problem 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 usually created 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 typical in climates where you use heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later on.
How to Fix It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to frequently get a new air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with Custom Air Systems Inc. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, because excess water can also create noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it could be prompted by several problems, like:
- A clogged filter
- Excess condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Examine 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 fix the issue, call Custom Air Systems Inc at 772-247-2283.
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 a couple of things wrong. These entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical problem.
Electrical malfunctions should be examined quickly to avoid a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, switch it off and call us at 772-247-2283 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there may be mold growing within your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold makes.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why you should have a pro like Custom Air Systems Inc examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Specialists Can Get Rid of Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Quickly
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 smelly air conditioner, give us a call at 772-247-2283. We’ll diagnose the problem quickly and fix it at a fair price.
