When your air conditioner is clean and running correctly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything weird. Unexpected air conditioner noises and odd smells are a hint that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had maintenance scheduled recently, they can be an obvious sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Front Royal.
Here are six of the top air conditioner smells and how you can resolve them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, particularly a chemical scent, it isn’t a positive sign. You might also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are typically a hint that your air conditioner has 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.
In addition to the strange smell, here are four other signs that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your house cool or achieving your set temperature.
- Increasing electrical costs.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak requires professional assistance from a heating and cooling company like Dave's Diversified Services. Your cooling professional will pinpoint and fix the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak typically costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it needs to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed early than 2010, it’s likely it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be best to do air conditioning installation in this circumstance.
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 significant chance you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be toxic in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Repair It
If you notice 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 without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who contact us to report this situation often share 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 frequently caused by 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 typical in climates where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling during the afternoon.
How to Solve It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to regularly get a new air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with Dave's Diversified Services. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, since standing water can also produce unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it could be caused by several problems, including:
- A filthy filter
- Too much condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve 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, it’s time to replace it. If that doesn’t solve the issue, reach Dave's Diversified Services at 540-636-3396.
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 a couple of things wrong. These include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that needs lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical issues should be checked right away to prevent a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is operating, shut it off and reach us at 540-636-3396 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there may be mold spreading inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold makes.
How to Solve It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why you should have a professional like Dave's Diversified Services examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Specialists Can Take Care of Odd Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly.
You deserve to be cozy in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your smelly air conditioner, contact us at 540-636-3396. We’ll diagnose the problem quickly and fix it at a competitive.