When your air conditioner is spotless and running right, it’s not normal to be smelling anything weird. Peculiar air conditioner noises and strange smells are a sign that something is out of whack. If your air conditioner is getting older or you haven’t had service completed lately, they can be a clear sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Zelienople.
Here are six of the most frequent air conditioner smells and how you can repair them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, particularly a chemical odor, 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 typically a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system relies on this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can break out over time.
Four Hints You Have a Refrigerant Leak
Aside from the weird smell, here are four other clues that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your residence cold or reaching your desired temperature.
- Higher electrical expenses.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak needs experienced repairs from a heating and cooling company like Knoechel Heating. Your cooling technician will find and fix the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Repairing 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 long 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 manufactured as a result of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Due to this, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be smartest to do air conditioning installation in this situation.
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 likelihood you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, because the gas can be deadly in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Fix It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside as soon as possible.
- Calling your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who reach us regarding this situation usually say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is often linked to a dirty 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 need heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling during the afternoon.
How to Solve It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to frequently get a new air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Knoechel Heating. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, since stagnant water can also create unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it could be caused by several problems, like:
- A clogged filter
- Extra condensation
- Clogged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, you should replace it. If that doesn’t solve the issue, call Knoechel Heating at 724-425-5852.
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 entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical problem.
Electrical problems should be checked quickly to prevent a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, turn it off and reach us at 724-425-5852 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there might be mold growing within 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 health. That’s why you should have a specialist like Knoechel Heating check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Specialists Can Get Rid of Odd Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly
You deserve to be comfy in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your smelly air conditioner, give us a call at 724-425-5852. We’ll determine the problem quickly and resolve it at a competitive.