When your air conditioner is spotless and running correctly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything strange. Peculiar air conditioner noises and odd smells are a clue that something is off. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had service done lately, they can be an obvious sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Hudsonville.
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, especially a chemical odor, it isn’t a great sign. You may also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical smells are typically a hint that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system uses this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can crack as time passes.
Four Signs You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
Aside from the strange smell, here are four other signs that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your house cool or achieving your programmed temperature.
- Increasing energy expenses.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak calls for skilled repairs from a heating and cooling company like West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services. Your cooling pro will locate and repair the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, based on nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it needs 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 because of its negative effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, repairs can be very expensive so it may be wisest 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 residence. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be deadly in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Solve It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside promptly.
- Getting in touch with your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who contact us to report this situation often share 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 typically caused by a dirty 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 turn on heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later in the day.
How to Repair It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to routinely change your air filter and schedule routine air conditioning maintenance with West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, as standing water can also create nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it can be prompted by several problems, including:
- A clogged filter
- Too much condensation
- Clogged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Fix It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, you should replace it. If that doesn’t resolve the problem, contact West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services at (616) 319-1436.
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 problem.
Electrical issues should be examined quickly to prevent a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, switch it off and reach us at (616) 319-1436 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
An overpowering ammonia odor means there may be mold growing 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 you should have a specialist like West Michigan Heating & Air Conditioning Services examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Specialists Can Get Rid of Odd Air Conditioner Smells Quickly
You deserve to be comfy in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your stinky air conditioner, give us a call at (616) 319-1436. We’ll diagnose the problem quickly and take care of it at a fair price.
