When your air conditioner is fresh 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 up. If your air conditioner is past its prime or you haven’t had a tune-up done recently, they can be a clear sign you need skilled air conditioning repair in Bend.
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, specifically a chemical scent, it isn’t a positive sign. You could also observe your:
- Air conditioner smells like paint thinner
- Home air conditioner smells sweet
These sweet, chemical smells are frequently a hint that your air conditioner has a refrigerant leak. Your system needs this gas to transfer heat through copper coils, which can crack as time goes on.
Four Signs You Are Experiencing a Refrigerant Leak
Aside from the odd smell, here are four other clues that you are experiencing 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 house cool or achieving your programmed temperature.
- Increasing utility expenses.
How You Can Fix It
A refrigerant leak calls for experienced support from a heating and cooling company like Tri County Climate Control LLC. Your cooling pro will find and repair the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant.
Repairing a refrigerant leak usually costs between $225 and $1,600, according to nationwide averages assembled by HomeAdvisor. Your precise cost will depend on the location and severity of the leak, as well as how long it requires to repair.
If your air conditioner was installed prior to 2010, there’s a good chance it uses R-22 or Freon refrigerant. This refrigerant is no longer being made as a result of its negative effects on the ozone layer. As a consequence, repairs can be extremely expensive so it may be smartest to schedule air conditioning installation in this circumstance.
2. Air Conditioner Smells Like Gas
If your air conditioner smells like rotten eggs, there’s possibly nothing wrong with it. But there’s a good chance you have a natural gas leak in your house. Natural gas has a sulfur-like additive to signal you when there’s a leak, as the gas can be fatal in big amounts.
How You Can Repair It
If you notice a sulfur or rotten egg odor, we suggest:
- Shutting off your gas supply.
- Opening windows.
- Evacuating your home as soon as possible.
- Calling your gas company now.
3. Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Individuals who contact us regarding this issue usually mention their air conditioner smells like feet, dirty socks or a locker room when it’s running. Also called dirty sock syndrome, this smell is frequently linked to a grubby 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 turning on cooling later on.
How to Solve It
The best approach for preventing dirty sock syndrome is to routinely get a new air filter and schedule annual air conditioning maintenance with Tri County Climate Control LLC. We’ll keep the evaporator coil clean and the drainage system unclogged, because excess water can also result in nasty 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, like:
- A dirty filter
- Excess condensation
- Blocked condensate pan or drain line
- Moldy air conditioner or ductwork
How to Resolve It
Examine your filter first. If you haven’t changed it within the last three months and can’t see light through it, we recommend replacing it. If that doesn’t solve the smell, contact Tri County Climate Control LLC at 541-238-2797.
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 a number of things wrong. These entail:
- Broken capacitator that’s overheating the motor.
- Motor that needs lubrication.
- Broken fan belt.
- Electrical malfunctions.
Electrical problems should be inspected right away to stop a fire. If you detect burning plastic when your air conditioner is on, switch it off and reach us at 541-238-2797 immediately.
6. Air Conditioner Smells Like Cat Pee
A powerful 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 makes.
How to Repair It
Mycotoxins are hazardous to your well-being. That’s why it’s important to have a specialist like Tri County Climate Control LLC check your air conditioner and ductwork and clean it when needed.
Our Professionals Can Get Rid of Odd Air Conditioner Smells Quickly
You deserve to be comfortable in your house and shouldn’t have an air conditioner that smells bad. When you need relief from your noxious air conditioner, give us a call at 541-238-2797. We’ll diagnose the problem quickly and take care of it at a competitive.