When your air conditioner is spotless and working properly, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything weird. Unusual air conditioner noises and strange 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 a clear sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Manassas.
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, especially a chemical scent, it isn’t a positive sign. You might also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are typically a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time passes.
Four signs you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
Aside from 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 on.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your home comfortable or achieving your set temperature.
- High energy bills.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak calls for skilled support from a heating and cooling company like Air-Right Energy Design. Your cooling professional will find and mend the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak typically costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how much time it needs to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, there’s a high probability it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced due to its negative effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, repairs can be very 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 high likelihood you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, because the gas can be deadly in big amounts.
How You Can Solve It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home right away.
- Calling your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who call us to report this problem frequently say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is typically linked to 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 use heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling during the afternoon.
How to Fix It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to regularly get a new air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with Air-Right Energy Design. 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 living with air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it might be caused by several issues, including:
- A dirty filter
- Excess condensation
- Clogged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Fix It
Check 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 resolve the issue, contact Air-Right Energy Design at 703-260-1148.
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 a couple of things wrong. These include:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical issue.
Electrical problems should be examined right away to prevent a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, switch it off and call us at 703-260-1148 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there may be mold spreading in your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold produces.
How to Solve It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist like Air-Right Energy Design examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Professionals Can Eliminate Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Quickly.
You deserve to be comfy in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your stinky air conditioner, reach us at 703-260-1148. We’ll determine the trouble quickly and fix it at a fair price.
