When your air conditioner is clean and working right, it’s not normal to be smelling anything odd. Abnormal air conditioner noises and odd smells are a clue that something is up. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had maintenance scheduled within the last year, they can be a sure sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Neptune City.

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 scents are typically a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system relies on this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time passes.

Four Hints You Have a Refrigerant Leak

Besides the weird smell, here are four other clues that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.

  1. Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is cooling.
  2. Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
  3. Trouble keeping your residence comfortable or having your desired temperature.
  4. High utility expenses.

How You Can Take Care of It

A refrigerant leak needs experienced support from a heating and cooling company like Aggressive Mechanical. Your cooling technician will find and fix the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.

Resolving a refrigerant leak usually 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 many hours it needs to repair.

If your air conditioner was installed earlier than 2010, there’s a good chance it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured 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 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 high likelihood 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 large amounts.

How You Can Repair It

If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:

  • Switching off your gas supply.
  • Opening windows.
  • Evacuating your home promptly.
  • Getting in touch with your gas company immediately.

3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty

People who call us regarding this problem usually share 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 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 often seen in areas where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later in the day.

How to Solve It

The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to regularly replace your air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with Aggressive Mechanical. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, since stagnant water can also produce nasty odors.

4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar

If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it might be caused by several situations, like:

  • A clogged filter
  • Extra condensation
  • Plugged condensate pan or drain line
  • Moldy air conditioner or ductwork

How to Repair It

Inspect 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 solve the issue, contact 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 several things wrong. These involve:

  • Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
  • Motor that needs lubrication.
  • Broken fan belt.
  • Electrical problem.

Electrical malfunctions should be inspected quickly to prevent a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is operating, shut it off and reach us at 732-806-5536 without delay.

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 creates.

How to Solve It

Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist like Aggressive Mechanical look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.

Our Professionals Can Take Care of Strange Air Conditioner Smells Quickly

You deserve to be comfy in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your smelly air conditioner, contact us at 732-806-5536. We’ll diagnose the issue quickly and fix it at a reasonable.