When your air conditioner is fresh and operating correctly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything odd. Unusual air conditioner noises and odd smells are a hint that something is off. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had service completed recently, they can be an obvious sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Des Moines.
Here are six of the most frequent 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, particularly a chemical scent, it isn’t a positive sign. You might also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are often a sign that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can break out as time passes.
Four clues you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
Besides the weird smell, here are four other hints that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is on.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your home cool or reaching your programmed temperature.
- Higher electrical expenses.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak calls for skilled assistance from a heating and cooling company like Heartland Heating & Cooling. Your cooling pro will locate and fix the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, based on 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 prior to 2010, there’s a high probability it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made as a result of its adverse effects on the ozone layer. As a result, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be wisest to consider air conditioning installation in this situation.
2. Air Conditioner Smells Like Gas
If your air conditioner smells like rotten eggs, there’s probably nothing wrong with it. But there’s a high likelihood you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to warn you when there’s a leak, since the gas can be fatal in big amounts.
How You Can Solve It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home right away.
- Calling your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Homeowners who call us about this issue frequently 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 filthy evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Condensation can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most often seen in locations where you need heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling during the afternoon.
How to Solve It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to frequently change your air filter and schedule routine air conditioning maintenance with Heartland Heating & Cooling. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, because excess water can also create noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it can be caused by several situations, like:
- A clogged filter
- Too much condensation
- Clogged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Inspect your filter first. If you haven’t replaced it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t solve the smell, contact Heartland Heating & Cooling at 515-344-3579.
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 couple of things wrong. These involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical problem.
Electrical problems should be checked quickly to prevent a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, switch it off and call us at 515-344-3579 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there might be mold growing within 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 we recommend having a pro like Heartland Heating & Cooling examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Pros Can Get Rid of Weird 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 noxious air conditioner, reach us at 515-344-3579. We’ll figure out the problem quickly and take care of it at a competitive.