When your air conditioner is clean and running right, you shouldn’t be smelling anything odd. Abnormal air conditioner noises and weird smells are a sign that something is off. If your air conditioner is getting older or you haven’t had maintenance completed lately, they can be an obvious sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Tomball.
Here are six of the top air conditioner smells and how you can solve 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 good sign. You could also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are regularly a hint that your air conditioner is suffering from a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can break out as time passes.
Four Signs You Have a Refrigerant Leak
Besides the odd smell, here are four other signs that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your home cool or achieving your desired temperature.
- Higher electrical costs.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak calls for professional assistance from a heating and cooling company like Premium Air Services LLC. Your cooling specialist will find and fix the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, based on nationwide averages put together 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, it’s likely it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made as a result of its negative effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be best to schedule air conditioning installation in this circumstance.
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 good probability 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 big amounts.
How You Can Repair It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home promptly.
- Calling your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who contact us regarding this problem often report 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 often created by 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 locations where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling during the afternoon.
How to Solve It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to frequently replace your air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with Premium Air Services LLC. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, as standing water can also result in unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it might be caused by several situations, such as:
- A dirty filter
- Excess condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Inspect your filter first. If you haven’t put in a new one within the last three months and can’t see light through it, you should replace it. If that doesn’t solve the problem, contact Premium Air Services LLC at 713-364-9957.
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 entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical issue.
Electrical issues should be inspected right away to avoid a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is operating, switch it off and contact us at 713-364-9957 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there may be mold flourishing inside 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 wellness. That’s why it’s important to have a pro like Premium Air Services LLC examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Professionals Can Take Care of Weird Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be comfortable in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your noxious air conditioner, contact us at 713-364-9957. We’ll diagnose the issue quickly and take care of it at a reasonable.