When your air conditioner is fresh and operating correctly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything strange. Unusual air conditioner noises and weird smells are a hint that something is off. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had a tune-up done within the last year, they can be a sure sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Norco and St. Charles Parish.
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 odor, it isn’t a positive sign. You may also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical smells are typically a sign that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to move heat through copper coils, which can wear out as time goes on.
Four Hints You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to the strange smell, here are four other clues 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.
- Trouble keeping your home cool or achieving your desired temperature.
- Higher utility expenses.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak calls for experienced support from a heating and cooling company like Mayeuxs AC & Heating. Your cooling specialist will locate and fix the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your exact cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it needs to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, there’s a good chance it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. As a consequence, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be wisest to consider air conditioning installation in this instance.
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 home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, because the gas can be toxic in large amounts.
How You Can Fix It
If you smell a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we advise:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside right away.
- Calling your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
People who reach us regarding this problem frequently share their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s on. 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 common in areas where you turn on heating at night and during the morning before turning on cooling later in the day.
How to Solve It
The best method for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to regularly get a new air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Mayeuxs AC & Heating. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unblocked, since excess water can also create noxious odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or a strong, vinegar-like odor, it can be prompted by several situations, including:
- A dirty filter
- Too much 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 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 entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that requires lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical malfunctions.
Electrical malfunctions should be checked right away to prevent a fire. If you smell burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, shut it off and contact us at (985) 764-2426 right away.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there may be mold spreading inside your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold produces.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why you should have a pro like Mayeuxs AC & Heating examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Specialists Can Eliminate Strange Air Conditioner Smells Quickly
You deserve to be comfy in your home and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your smelly air conditioner, reach us at (985) 764-2426. We’ll figure out the issue quickly and resolve it at a competitive.
