When your air conditioner is clean and working correctly, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything weird. Peculiar air conditioner noises and odd smells are a hint that something is up. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had maintenance scheduled within the last year, they can be a clear sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Norco and St. Charles Parish.
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, particularly a chemical scent, isn’t a positive sign. You might also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are frequently a clue that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time passes.
4 Signs You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to the weird smell, here are four other hints that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner runs.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- It’s hard keeping your house cool or achieving your desired temperature.
- Higher utility bills.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak requires skilled support from a heating and cooling company like Mayeuxs AC & Heating. Your cooling pro will locate and repair 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 requires to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, there’s a high probability it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made because of its adverse effects on the ozone layer. As a consequence, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be best to consider air conditioning installation in this circumstance.
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 significant 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 heavy concentrations.
How You Can Solve It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Turning off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Leaving your home promptly.
- Call your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who reach us about this situation usually say their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. Also referred to as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is often 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 common in locations where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later in the day.
How to Fix It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to frequently replace your air filter and schedule routine air conditioning maintenance with Mayeuxs AC & Heating. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, as stagnant water can also result in noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are dealing with air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it could be prompted by several situations, including:
- A clogged filter
- Too much condensation
- Plugged condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Fix It
Inspect 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 fix the issue, contact Mayeuxs AC & Heating at (985) 764-2426.
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 several things wrong. These involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that needs lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical problem.
Electrical malfunctions should be inspected immediately to stop a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, switch it off and call us at (985) 764-2426 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there could be mold spreading in 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 wellness. That’s why we recommend having a specialist like Mayeuxs AC & Heating look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Professionals Can Eliminate Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be comfortable in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your smelly air conditioner, reach us at (985) 764-2426. We’ll determine the issue quickly and fix it at a competitive.