When your air conditioner is fresh and working correctly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything weird. Out of the ordinary air conditioner noises and odd smells are a clue that something is up. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had service done within the last year, they can be a clear sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Neptune City.
Here are six of the most frequent 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 smell, it isn’t a positive sign. You may also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are often a hint that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time goes on.
Four clues you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
In addition to the odd smell, here are four other signs that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your residence comfortable or achieving your programmed temperature.
- Increasing utility bills.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak calls for skilled assistance from a heating and cooling company like Aggressive Mechanical. Your cooling pro will locate and fix the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how many hours it takes to repair.
If your air conditioner was installed early than 2010, there’s a high probability it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced as a result of its adverse effects on the ozone layer. As a result, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be smartest to consider 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 home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, because the gas can be fatal in big amounts.
How You Can Repair It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home as soon as possible.
- Getting in touch with your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Homeowners who call us to report this situation usually mention 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 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 climates where you need heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later on.
How to Repair It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to frequently change your air filter and schedule routine air conditioning maintenance with Aggressive Mechanical. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, as excess water can also produce unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it might be caused by several situations, such as:
- A filthy filter
- Excess condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Repair It
Examine your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t fix the smell, call Aggressive Mechanical at 732-806-5536.
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 number of things wrong. These entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical problems should be inspected immediately to avoid a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, turn it off and contact us at 732-806-5536 immediately.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there might be mold growing inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold produces.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your wellness. That’s why it’s important to have a pro like Aggressive Mechanical examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Professionals Can Get Rid of Strange Air Conditioner Smells Quickly.
You deserve to be comfy in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your noxious air conditioner, give us a call at 732-806-5536. We’ll determine the issue quickly and resolve it at a fair price.