When your air conditioner is spotless and running properly, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything weird. Out of the ordinary air conditioner noises and weird smells are a hint that something is up. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had maintenance scheduled recently, they can be a clear sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Tomball.
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, especially a chemical scent, it isn’t a great sign. You could also observe 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 move heat through copper coils, which can break out over time.
Four hints you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
In addition to the weird smell, here are four other clues that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is cooling.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your residence comfortable or having your programmed temperature.
- High utility costs.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak needs professional assistance from a heating and cooling company like Premium Air Services LLC. Your cooling professional will find and repair the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it takes to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, there’s a high probability it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured due to its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a consequence, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be wisest to schedule 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 chance you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, as the gas can be toxic in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Solve It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside promptly.
- Getting in touch with your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Homeowners who call us to report this situation often mention their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s running. Also known as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is frequently linked to a filthy evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Moisture can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most common in areas where you use heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling during the afternoon.
How to Repair It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to routinely change your air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with Premium Air Services LLC. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, since excess water can also produce noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it might be the result of several problems, including:
- A dirty filter
- Too much condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, you should replace it. If that doesn’t fix the issue, reach Premium Air Services LLC at 713-364-9957.
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 a number of things wrong. These entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical malfunction.
Electrical malfunctions should be checked immediately to stop a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, shut it off and reach us at 713-364-9957 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there may be mold present inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold creates.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why we recommend having a professional like Premium Air Services LLC look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Specialists Can Eliminate Unpleasant 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, contact us at 713-364-9957. We’ll figure out the issue quickly and fix it at a fair price.