When your air conditioner is fresh and working correctly, you shouldn’t be smelling anything odd. Unexpected air conditioner noises and strange smells are a hint that something is up. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had maintenance completed lately, they can be an obvious sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Wausau.
Here are six of the most common air conditioner smells and how you can fix 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 good sign. You could also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are often a clue that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can crack as time goes on.
Four Clues You Have a Refrigerant Leak
Aside from the weird smell, here are four other signs that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is operating.
- Frost on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Trouble keeping your residence cold or having your desired temperature.
- Higher electrical bills.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak requires skilled assistance from a heating and cooling company like Gilray Heating and Cooling. Your cooling technician will pinpoint and repair the leak before recharging your AC with refrigerant.
Repairing 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 much time it needs to solve.
If your air conditioner was installed earlier than 2010, it’s likely it runs on R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being produced due to its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Due to this, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be wisest to schedule 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 high chance you have a natural gas leak in your home. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to alert you when there’s a leak, as the gas can be toxic in large amounts.
How You Can Repair It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Switching off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home promptly.
- Getting in touch with your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who contact us to report this problem often mention 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. Moisture can also make your home air conditioner smell bad. Dirty sock syndrome is most common in locations where you need 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 frequently replace your air filter and schedule yearly air conditioning maintenance with Gilray Heating and Cooling. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, because stagnant water can also lead to nasty odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it could be the result of several problems, like:
- A filthy filter
- Extra 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, you should replace it. If that doesn’t fix the smell, contact Gilray Heating and Cooling at 715-301-0727.
5. Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic
If you’re dealing with 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 should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical issue.
Electrical issues should be examined right away to avoid a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is operating, switch it off and reach us at 715-301-0727 immediately.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there could be mold growing within your air conditioner or ductwork. The smell isn’t the mold itself, but the mycotoxins that mold creates.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your health. That’s why we recommend having a specialist like Gilray Heating and Cooling look at your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Pros Can Eliminate Unpleasant Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be cozy in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your smelly air conditioner, reach us at 715-301-0727. We’ll determine the trouble quickly and resolve it at a fair price.