When your air conditioner is clean and working correctly, it’s expected you won’t be smelling anything weird. Abnormal air conditioner noises and strange smells are a sign that something is off. If your air conditioner is aging or you haven’t had service completed recently, they can be an obvious sign you need pro air conditioning repair in Lodi.
Here are six of the most frequent 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, specifically a chemical smell, isn’t a good sign. You may also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical smells are often a sign that your air conditioner is suffering from a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can break out over time.
4 Clues You Are Dealing with a Refrigerant Leak
Aside from the strange smell, here are four other hints that you are experiencing a refrigerant leak.
- Bubbling or hissing sounds when your air conditioner is on.
- Ice on refrigerant lines or the evaporator coil.
- Difficulty keeping your home comfortable or having your set temperature.
- Higher electrical bills.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak needs skilled assistance from a heating and cooling company like Tokay Heating and Air Conditioning. Your cooling professional will find and mend the leak before recharging your air conditioner with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak often costs between $225 and $1,600, per 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 needs to fix.
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 manufactured as a result of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. Consequently, repairs can be very 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 likely nothing wrong with it. But there’s a high probability you have a natural gas leak in your residence. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to warn 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 recommend:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Going outside right away.
- Getting in touch with your gas company without delay.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Homeowners who contact us to report this problem often share their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s running. Also known as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is usually linked to 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 transitioning to cooling later on.
How to Fix It
The best way to prevent dirty sock syndrome is to routinely replace your air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Tokay Heating and Air Conditioning. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, since stagnant water can also create unpleasant odors.
4. Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
If you are experiencing air conditioner mildew smell or a pungent, vinegar-like odor, it can be the result of several situations, including:
- A filthy filter
- Excess condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Check 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 fix the issue, call Tokay Heating and Air Conditioning at 209-257-3156.
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 should have lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical trouble.
Electrical malfunctions should be examined immediately to stop a fire. If you notice burning plastic when your air conditioner is running, shut it off and contact us at 209-257-3156 without delay.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful ammonia odor means there may be mold present within 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 health. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist like Tokay Heating and Air Conditioning examine your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when recommended.
Our Specialists Can Take Care of Weird Air Conditioner Smells Fast
You deserve to be comfy in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you are seeking relief from your noxious air conditioner, reach us at 209-257-3156. We’ll determine the problem quickly and resolve it at a reasonable.