When your air conditioner is fresh and operating right, it’s not normal to be smelling anything strange. Abnormal air conditioner noises and weird smells are a hint that something is off. If your air conditioner is old or you haven’t had service completed within the last year, they can be a sure sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Kankakee.
Here are six of the most frequent 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, especially a chemical odor, it isn’t a good sign. You might also notice your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical scents are typically a sign that your air conditioner is experiencing a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to shift heat through copper coils, which can break out as time passes.
Four Signs You Have a Refrigerant Leak
Aside from the odd smell, here are four other clues that you are dealing with a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is cooling.
- Ice crystals on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your home comfortable or having your programmed temperature.
- Increasing energy costs.
How You Can Take Care of It
A refrigerant leak needs skilled assistance from a heating and cooling company like Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating. Your cooling technician will pinpoint and repair the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, based on nationwide averages put together by HomeAdvisor. Your total cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it takes to fix.
If your air conditioner was installed earlier than 2010, it’s likely it has R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Due to this, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be best to schedule air conditioning installation in this circumstance.
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 significant 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 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.
- Leaving your home right away.
- Calling your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who contact us regarding this issue 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 usually linked to a dirty 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 use heating at night and during the morning before transitioning to cooling later on.
How to Solve It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to frequently replace your air filter and schedule regular air conditioning maintenance with Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system flowing, since excess water can also result in unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are living with air conditioner mildew smell or an acidic, vinegar-like odor, it can be caused by several situations, including:
- A clogged filter
- Too much condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Check your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, you should replace it. If that doesn’t fix the smell, contact Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating at 815-933-8213.
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 a couple of things wrong. These involve:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical issue.
Electrical problems should be inspected right away to avoid a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, turn it off and call us at 815-933-8213 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A strong ammonia odor means there could be mold growing in 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 pro like Home Furniture, Plumbing & Heating examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Pros Can Get Rid of Strange Air Conditioner Smells Rapidly
You deserve to be comfortable in your residence and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are looking for relief from your smelly air conditioner, contact us at 815-933-8213. We’ll diagnose the trouble quickly and fix it at a competitive.