When your air conditioner is spotless and operating correctly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything weird. Out of the ordinary air conditioner noises and weird smells are a sign that something is out of whack. If your air conditioner is getting older or you haven’t had a tune-up done lately, they can be an obvious sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Central Point.
Here are six of the top air conditioner smells and how you can solve them.
1. Central Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If your air conditioner smells bad when turned on, especially a chemical scent, it isn’t a positive sign. You could also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are regularly a clue that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can wear out over time.
Four Hints You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
Besides the odd smell, here are four other clues that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is on.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your house comfortable or achieving your desired temperature.
- Increasing utility costs.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak requires experienced assistance from a heating and cooling company like Titan Heating & Air Conditioning. Your cooling pro will locate and fix the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak typically costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. Your precise cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it takes to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, there’s a good chance it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being manufactured because of its negative effects on the ozone layer. As a result, repairs can be very expensive so it may be smartest to do air conditioning installation in this instance.
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, since the gas can be toxic in big amounts.
How You Can Fix It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home right away.
- Getting in touch with your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who reach us about this situation usually share their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is often created by a dirty evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Excess water can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most often seen in climates where you turn on 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 regularly change your air filter and schedule routine air conditioning maintenance with Titan Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, because stagnant water can also result in unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it can be the result of several situations, like:
- A filthy filter
- Too much condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Fix It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t solve the issue, contact Titan Heating & Air Conditioning at 541-286-6617.
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 requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical malfunctions.
Electrical problems should be inspected right away to avoid a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, turn it off and call us at 541-286-6617 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there might be mold spreading in your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold creates.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why you should have a specialist like Titan Heating & Air Conditioning check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Specialists Can Take Care of Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Quickly
You deserve to be comfortable in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your stinky air conditioner, give us a call at 541-286-6617. We’ll figure out the issue quickly and resolve it at a competitive.