When your air conditioner is spotless and running correctly, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything odd. Unusual air conditioner noises and odd smells are a hint that something is out of whack. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had service scheduled lately, they can be an obvious sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Rapid City.
Here are six of the most frequent 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 smell, it isn’t a positive sign. You could also report your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are frequently a hint that your air conditioner is suffering from a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can crack over time.
Four clues you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
Aside from the odd smell, here are four other hints that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is cooling.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your home cold or having your set temperature.
- Higher utility expenses.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak requires experienced assistance from a heating and cooling company like Street Heating and Cooling. Your cooling pro will pinpoint and mend the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak often 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 early than 2010, it’s likely it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made due to its damaging effects on the ozone layer. As a result, 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 probably nothing wrong with it. But there’s a significant 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 toxic in big amounts.
How You Can Solve It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside right away.
- Getting in touch with your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who reach us to report this situation often say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it runs. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is frequently created by a filthy 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 typical in areas where you need heating at night and during the morning before switching to cooling later in the day.
How to Solve It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to regularly get a new air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Street Heating and Cooling. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, because standing water can also produce unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it might be prompted by several problems, like:
- A clogged filter
- Extra condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Repair It
Check 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 fix the problem, call Street Heating and Cooling at 605-206-3915.
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 requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical malfunctions should be checked immediately to prevent a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, switch it off and contact us at 605-206-3915 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there may be mold spreading 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 health. That’s why you should have a pro like Street Heating and Cooling examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when necessary.
Our Pros Can Get Rid of Weird Air Conditioner Smells Quickly.
You deserve to be cozy in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your noxious air conditioner, give us a call at 605-206-3915. We’ll figure out the problem quickly and take care of it at a fair price.