When your air conditioner is fresh and working right, you shouldn’t be smelling anything odd. Out of the ordinary air conditioner noises and odd smells are a clue that something is up. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had service done within the last year, they can be an obvious sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Morgantown.
Here are six of the most frequent 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, specifically a chemical smell, 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 smells are frequently a hint that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can crack as time passes.
Four Signs You Have a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to the strange smell, here are four other signs 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.
- Difficulty keeping your residence cool or reaching your set temperature.
- High utility expenses.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak calls for professional support from a heating and cooling company like Mountain Air. Your cooling technician will locate and repair the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how many hours it needs to repair.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, there’s a good chance it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made because of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, repairs can be very expensive so it may be smartest to schedule 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 significant probability you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be fatal in big amounts.
How You Can Solve It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home as soon as possible.
- Getting in touch with your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who contact us regarding this situation often say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also referred to as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is typically 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 typical in locations where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later in the day.
How to Fix It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to regularly change your air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Mountain Air. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, as standing water can also lead to nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it could be prompted by several situations, including:
- A clogged filter
- Extra condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Inspect your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, it’s time to replace it. If that doesn’t fix the issue, contact Mountain Air at 304-413-1287.
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 include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical malfunctions should be checked right away to prevent a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, switch it off and reach us at 304-413-1287 immediately.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there may be mold present within 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 health. That’s why it’s important to have a pro like Mountain Air check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Professionals Can Get Rid of Strange 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 looking for relief from your smelly air conditioner, give us a call at 304-413-1287. We’ll determine the problem quickly and fix it at a competitive.