When your air conditioner is fresh and working right, it’s not normal to be smelling anything weird. Unusual 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 a tune-up completed lately, they can be a clear sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Chadron.
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, particularly a chemical smell, it isn’t a great sign. You might 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 has a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can break out over time.
Four Hints You Have 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 on.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your home cold or having your set temperature.
- Increasing energy expenses.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak requires skilled assistance from a heating and cooling company like MPC Heating & Cooling. Your cooling technician will locate and mend the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Fixing a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, based on nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your precise cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how many hours it needs to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, it’s likely it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced as a result of its damaging effects on the ozone layer. Due to this, repairs can be significantly expensive so it may be smartest to do air conditioning installation in this circumstance.
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 significant 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, because the gas can be deadly in large amounts.
How You Can Repair It
If you detect a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home as soon as possible.
- Contacting your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Homeowners who call us about this problem 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 typically linked to a filthy evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Moisture can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most typical in locations where you need heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later on.
How to Solve It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to routinely get a new air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with MPC Heating & Cooling. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, since excess water can also result in noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it might be caused by several issues, like:
- A clogged filter
- Extra condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Repair It
Examine 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 smell, contact MPC Heating & Cooling at 308-832-4321.
5. Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic
If you’re experiencing an air conditioner burning smell or that your air conditioner smells like fish, there could be a couple of things wrong. These entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical malfunctions should be examined right away to prevent a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, turn it off and reach us at 308-832-4321 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there could be mold flourishing inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold makes.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist like MPC Heating & Cooling examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Pros Can Get Rid of Weird Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be cozy in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your stinky air conditioner, give us a call at 308-832-4321. We’ll figure out the problem quickly and take care of it at a reasonable.