When your air conditioner is clean and running correctly, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything strange. Peculiar air conditioner noises and weird smells are a clue that something is out of whack. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had maintenance scheduled within the last year, they can be a clear sign you need professional air conditioning repair in Omaha.
Here are six of the most common 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 scent, it isn’t a great sign. You may also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical odors are often a hint that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can crack over time.
Four Clues You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
In addition to the odd smell, here are four other hints that you have a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is on.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your house comfortable or having your programmed temperature.
- Higher electrical bills.
How You Can Repair It
A refrigerant leak requires experienced support from a heating and cooling company like The Frazier Company. Your cooling professional will locate and fix the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Resolving a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, per nationwide averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how many hours it takes to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, it’s likely it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced due to its adverse effects on the ozone layer. As a result, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be best to schedule 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 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, as the gas can be toxic in heavy concentrations.
How You Can Solve It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we recommend:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside as soon as possible.
- Calling your gas company immediately.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who reach us about this situation often report 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 usually created by a dirty evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Condensation can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most common in areas where you need 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 change your air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with The Frazier Company. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, since stagnant water can also result in nasty 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 prompted by several problems, like:
- A dirty filter
- Too much condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Solve It
Inspect your filter first. If you haven’t put in a new one within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t solve the problem, contact The Frazier Company at 402-628-0206.
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 involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical malfunctions.
Electrical malfunctions should be examined immediately to prevent a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, turn it off and reach us at 402-628-0206 immediately.
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 produces.
How to Fix It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist like The Frazier Company check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Professionals Can Eliminate Unpleasant 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 402-628-0206. We’ll figure out the issue quickly and resolve it at a fair price.
