When your air conditioner is spotless and operating properly, it’s not normal to be smelling anything strange. Unusual air conditioner noises and strange smells are a clue that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had service scheduled within the last year, they can be a sure sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Mankato area.
Here are six of the most common air conditioner smells and how you can fix them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, specifically a chemical odor, isn’t a good sign. You might also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are frequently a hint 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 passes.
4 Hints You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
Aside from the strange smell, here are four other clues that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your house comfortable or reaching your set temperature.
- Higher electrical costs.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak needs experienced assistance from a heating and cooling company like Northern Comfort Inc. Your cooling technician will locate and repair the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it needs to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed before 2010, there’s a good chance it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made because of its adverse effects on the ozone layer. Because of this, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be best to do 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 good probability you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to warn you when there’s a leak, because the gas can be deadly in big amounts.
How You Can Fix It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home as soon as possible.
- Getting in touch with your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who contact us to report this problem often share their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also known as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is frequently caused 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 climates where you use heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later on.
How to Repair It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to routinely get a new air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Northern Comfort Inc. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, since standing water can also produce unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it can be caused by several issues, including:
- A dirty filter
- Excess condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Fix 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 problem, call Northern Comfort Inc at 507-387-6596.
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 should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical problem.
Electrical problems should be inspected immediately to avoid a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, switch it off and call us at 507-387-6596 immediately.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there might be mold flourishing within your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold produces.
How to Solve It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your wellness. That’s why we recommend having a specialist like Northern Comfort Inc examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Professionals Can Take Care of Odd Air Conditioner Smells Quickly
You deserve to be comfy in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your stinky air conditioner, reach us at 507-387-6596. We’ll figure out the issue quickly and take care of it at a reasonable.