When your air conditioner is spotless and operating correctly, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything weird. Unusual air conditioner noises and odd smells are a sign that something is wrong. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had a tune-up completed within the last year, they can be a sure sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Wilmington.
Here are six of the top 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, particularly a chemical odor, it isn’t a great sign. You might also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are frequently a hint that your air conditioner is suffering from a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can break out as time passes.
Four Hints You Are Experiencing 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 runs.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your house cold or having your set temperature.
- Increasing utility bills.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak requires experienced assistance from a heating and cooling company like Brandywine Heating & Air. Your cooling pro will pinpoint and fix the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how many hours it takes to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, it’s likely it runs on 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 very 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 possibly nothing wrong with it. But there’s a good chance you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be fatal in large amounts.
How You Can Fix It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home right away.
- Contacting your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Homeowners who call us to report this issue often report their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is usually linked to a grubby evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Condensation can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most common in areas where you need heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later on.
How to Solve It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to frequently change your air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with Brandywine Heating & Air. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, because excess water can also produce noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it could be the result of several situations, such as:
- A clogged filter
- Excess condensation
- Clogged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t put in a new one within the last three months and can’t see light through it, it’s time to replace it. If that doesn’t resolve the smell, contact Brandywine Heating & Air at 302-261-3596.
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 entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical issues should be checked quickly to prevent a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, switch it off and call us at 302-261-3596 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong 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 Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why you should have a specialist like Brandywine Heating & Air examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Professionals Can Take Care of Strange 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 seeking relief from your smelly air conditioner, reach us at 302-261-3596. We’ll determine the problem quickly and take care of it at a competitive.