When your air conditioner is fresh and working properly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything strange. Abnormal air conditioner noises and weird smells are a hint that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had maintenance done lately, they can be a sure sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Newark.
Here are six of the most common 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, especially a chemical odor, it isn’t a good sign. You might also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are frequently a sign that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time goes on.
Four clues you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
Besides the strange smell, here are four other clues that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is on.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your residence comfortable or achieving your desired temperature.
- High energy costs.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak calls for professional support from a heating and cooling company like Luikart Heating & Cooling. Your cooling professional will pinpoint and repair the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. Your precise cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it requires to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, it’s likely it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced due to its adverse effects on the ozone layer. As a consequence, 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 likely 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, because the gas can be deadly in large amounts.
How You Can Repair It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home right away.
- Calling your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who contact us regarding this problem 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 usually linked to 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 climates where you need heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later in the day.
How to Repair It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to frequently change your air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Luikart Heating & Cooling. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, since standing water can also result in unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it could be caused by several situations, including:
- A clogged filter
- Excess condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Examine your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it 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, contact Luikart Heating & Cooling at 740-200-5591.
5. Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic
If you’re noticing 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 trouble.
Electrical problems should be checked right away to stop a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is operating, shut it off and contact us at 740-200-5591 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there might be mold spreading 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 wellness. That’s why we recommend having a specialist like Luikart Heating & Cooling examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Pros Can Take Care of Weird Air Conditioner Smells Fast.
You deserve to be comfy in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your stinky air conditioner, contact us at 740-200-5591. We’ll determine the trouble quickly and take care of it at a competitive.