When your air conditioner is spotless and running correctly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything odd. Peculiar air conditioner noises and weird smells are a sign that something is up. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had maintenance completed recently, they can be a sure sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in York.
Here are six of the top 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 observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical smells are regularly a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system relies on this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can break out as time goes on.
Four Clues You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
Besides the strange smell, here are four other signs that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner runs.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your house comfortable or achieving your set temperature.
- High utility costs.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak requires professional assistance from a heating and cooling company like Strine's. Your cooling pro will locate and mend the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak typically costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how much time it takes to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, there’s a good chance it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made due to its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be wisest to consider air conditioning installation in this instance.
2. Air Conditioner Smells Like Gas
If your air conditioner smells like rotten eggs, there’s probably nothing wrong with it. But there’s a good likelihood you have a natural gas leak in your residence. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to warn you when there’s a leak, because the gas can be fatal in big amounts.
How You Can Fix It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home as soon as possible.
- Contacting your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who reach us about this situation frequently say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also known as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is often created by a grubby 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 areas where you need heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later on.
How to Solve It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to frequently replace your air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Strine's. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, since excess water can also produce nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it can be prompted by several situations, including:
- A dirty filter
- Extra 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 fix the issue, contact Strine's at 717-383-4479.
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 several things wrong. These involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that needs lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical malfunctions.
Electrical malfunctions should be inspected right away to prevent a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, turn it off and reach us at 717-383-4479 immediately.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there could be mold present within your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold creates.
How to Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why you should have a specialist like Strine's examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Specialists Can Take Care of Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Quickly
You deserve to be comfortable in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your smelly air conditioner, reach us at 717-383-4479. We’ll determine the trouble quickly and fix it at a competitive.