When your air conditioner starts spewing strange or funky smells, it is necessary to take notice because it could be a sign of a major problem. Disregarding unpleasant smells coming from your cooling system can lead to serious damage to your HVAC system or even pose a risk to your health and safety.
Depending on what you're smelling, the culprit could be bacteria or fungus in the system. On the other hand, it could also sign something mechanically wrong with the AC. Some smells are a sign of a hazardous situation, including a natural gas leak.
At SKC AC LLC, we have a nose for these sorts of things. If you smell something odd coming from your cooling system, there's a good chance our team of skilled specialists has smelled it, too—and fixed it! We’ve earned a reputation as the first call for air conditioning repair in Big Spring.
What does a certain smell billowing out of your cooling system mean? Here are some common air conditioner smells and what they could mean:
My Air Conditioner Smells Like Feet
If your air conditioner smells like feet, it can be because of a buildup of bacteria or fungus in the unit. When moisture builds inside the unit, it can create an environment that is favorable to the spread of bacteria and fungus. This can cause a bad odor that is often described as smelling like dirty feet.
Another likely explanation for the stench of dirty feet may be a dirty air filter. When the air filter becomes clogged with dirt, dust and other particles, it can cause substandard air quality and a musty smell that it similar to the smell of feet.
To solve this dilemma, it's important to have an experienced specialist inspect and clean your air conditioning system, including the evaporator coil, drain pan and condensate drain line. It's also important to change the air filter routinely to promote good air quality and restrict the growth of bacteria and fungus.
My Air Conditioner Smells Like Rotten Eggs
If your air conditioning equipment reeks of rotten eggs, it may be because of a natural gas leak in the unit or in the surrounding area. Natural gas has a unique odor, often described as smelling like rotten eggs or sulfur, that is added to it to make it easily detectable.
A natural gas leak is extremely dangerous and requires immediate attention. If you suspect a gas leak, turn off your air conditioning system, immediately open windows and doors to air out the area, get everyone out of the building and call your gas company or emergency services right away.
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Mildew
If your AC is giving off an odor like mildew, it could be due to a accumulation of moisture inside the unit. When moisture collects inside the air conditioning system, it can foster the growth of mold and mildew. This can cause a musty odor that bears a resemblance to mildew.
Another possible cause of the smell might be a clogged air filter. Once the air filter becomes clogged, it can result in poor air quality and a musty smell that has a resemblance to mildew.
Annual air conditioning maintenance from SKC AC LLC can help avoid both of these issues, because a good cleaning, inspection and filter change is a very good way to keep your system operating at its best!
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Urine
One of the most distressing situations is when the air coming out of your HVAC system smells like urine.
If your air conditioner stinks like urine, it could be due to a variety of factors. One potential cause is a accumulation of bacteria or mold in the your HVAC. This can happen when moisture accumulates in the system and creates a wet environment that is conducive to bacterial growth. The bacteria can produce a foul odor that is like urine.
Another feasible cause of the smell could be a plugged drain line. The condensation that forms inside the air conditioning unit needs to drain away correctly, but if the drain line becomes stopped up by debris, it can cause water to back up and accumulate inside the unit. This can produce a musty smell that resembles urine.
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Burning Plastic
If your air conditioner smells like burning plastic, this could indicate an electrical concern with the unit. Over time, the electrical components in the air conditioning system can wear out or break, which can create a burning smell that resembles plastic.
Another possible root cause of the smell could be a foreign object that somehow got in the the air conditioner. If something foreign gets trapped in the air conditioning system, it can get hot and result in a smell like burning plastic.
If you think you smell burning plastic coming from your cooling system, it’s important to call a professional right away.
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Gas
If your AC smells like gas, there could be a natural gas leak in the unit or in the surrounding area. Natural gas has a distinct aroma, often described as smelling similar to rotten eggs or sulfur. That’s because an odor is incorporated into natural gas so that it is easily detectable.
As stated before, a natural gas leak can be VERY harmful and calls for immediate attention. Should you suspect a gas leak, turn off your air conditioning system, open windows and doors to air out the home, leave the building and contact your gas company or emergency services straight away.
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Fish
When your air conditioner smell like fish, you may have a situation where there's a build-up of bacteria or mold in the unit. Moisture creates an environment that fosters the growth of bacteria and mold. This can cause a foul odor that is often described as smelling like fish or, as mentioned earlier, it also can create a smell like dirty feet.
Another plausible explanation for the smell could be a dead animal or other biological material caught in the air conditioning system. This often can happen if an animal such as a mouse or bird becomes trapped inside the unit and dies.
To solve the issue, it's important to have a professional inspect and clean your HVAC system. They can find the source of the smell and take the proper steps to remove any contaminants and stop the problem from recurring.
My Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
There could be several reasons your air conditioning system smells like vinegar. One possible cause might be a plugged air filter. A second potential cause of the smell may be a refrigerant leak. When the refrigerant leaks, it can make a chemical odor that is described as smelling of vinegar.
To fix the issue, it's essential to have a skilled specialist inspect and clean your air conditioning. If the odor lingers after the cleaning and changing of the air filter, it's best to reach back out to a professional to identify and repair any persistent issues with your air conditioning. Or, the tech can tell you if your air conditioning ought to be replaced.
If you are planning to upgrade, SKC AC LLC can help find the ideal unit to fit your home’s needs. We provide dependable, skilled air conditioner installation in Big Spring.
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Chemicals
If the smell of chemicals is coming out of your air conditioning unit, it could be caused by a refrigerant leak. In a situation where the refrigerant leaks, it can create a chemical odor that some people describe as smelling like chemicals or paint thinner, vinegar or acetone.
One other possible cause of the smell could be something wrong with the electrical wiring or components inside the air conditioning system. This can result in a burning smell that is like chemicals or burning plastic.
If you think your system has a refrigerant leak or an electrical problem, it's important to turn off your air conditioning system immediately and contact a professional to inspect and repair the unit. Refrigerant leaks can be hazardous and may require immediate attention to avoid injury or damage to your house.
Strange Smell Coming from Your AC? Contact the Experts at SKC AC LLC
If your air conditioner reeks and you aren’t able to fix it easily on your own, call the cooling professionals at SKC AC LLC. We have plenty of experience working with a wide variety of air conditioning systems. Our crew has fixed countless air conditioning concerns through the years—including funky smells. Call us today for quality AC repair in Big Spring!