When your air conditioner starts putting out strange or gross odors, it is important to take notice because it could be a sign of a significant problem. Ignoring unpleasant smells coming from your cooling system can lead to further damage to your air conditioning or even pose a risk to your health and safety.
Depending on what you’re smelling, the root of the problem may be bacteria or fungus in the system. In other cases, it could also signal something mechanically wrong with the AC. Some smells are a warning of an unsafe problem, including a natural gas leak.
At Booneville Heating & Cooling, we have a nose for these sorts of things. If you smell something odd coming from your air conditioner, chances are our team of skilled specialists has smelled it, too—and fixed it! We’ve earned the reputation as the first call for air conditioning repair in Booneville.
What does a particular smell coming coming from your AC mean? Here are some typical air conditioner smells and what they could mean:
Your AC Smells Like Feet
If your air conditioner smells like feet, it might be caused by a buildup of bacteria or fungus inside of it. When moisture collects inside the unit, it can create an environment that is favorable to the development of bacteria and fungus. This can produce a nasty odor that is often described as smelling like stinky feet.
Another possible reason 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 result in poor air quality and a musty smell that resembles feet.
To correct this issue, it’s important to have a professional inspect and clean your air conditioning system, including the evaporator coil, drain pan and condensate drain line. It’s also important to exchange the air filter regularly to ensure good air quality and protect against the growth of bacteria and fungus.
Your AC Smells Like Rotten Eggs
If your air conditioner reeks of rotten eggs, it might be caused by a natural gas leak in the unit or in the surrounding area. Natural gas has a recognizable odor, often described as smelling like rotten eggs or sulfur, which is added to it to make it easily detectable.
A natural gas leak can be extraordinarily dangerous and requires immediate attention. If you suspect a gas leak, turn off your air conditioning system, immediately open windows and doors to ventilate the area, make everyone leave the building and call your gas company or emergency services immediately.
Your AC Smells Like Mildew
If your AC emits a smell like mildew, it might be due to a buildup of moisture inside the unit. When moisture collects inside an air conditioner, it can promote the growth of mold and mildew. This can cause a musty stench that bears a resemblance to mildew.
Another possible reason for the smell could be a clogged air filter. If the air filter becomes clogged, it can cause poor air quality and a musty smell that resembles mildew.
Annual air conditioning maintenance from Booneville Heating & Cooling can help avoid both of these problems, because a good cleaning, inspection and filter change is a terrific way to keep your system working at its best!
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Urine
One of the most undesirable scenarios is when an air conditioner smells like urine.
If your air conditioning equipment reeks of urine, it could could be caused by multiple factors. One possible cause is a collection of bacteria or mold in the your HVAC. This can happen if moisture accumulates in the system and creates a wet environment that favorable for bacterial growth. The bacteria can produce a foul odor that resembles urine.
Another potential cause of the stink could be a clogged drain line. The condensation that forms inside the air conditioning unit needs to drain away correctly, but if the drain line becomes choked with debris, it can cause water to back up and accumulate inside the unit. This can produce a musty smell that can stink like urine.
Your AC Smells Like Burning Plastic
If your AC smells like burning plastic, this could indicate an electrical problem with the unit. After a while, the electrical components in the air conditioning system can wear out or malfunction, which can make a burning smell that resembles plastic.
Another possible root cause of the smell could be a foreign object lodged in the HVAC system. If something foreign gets stuck in the air conditioning system, it can get hot and emit a smell like burning plastic.
If you notice something that smells like burning plastic coming from your air conditioner, it’s worthwhile to call a professional right away.
Your AC Smells Like Gas
If your air conditioner smells like gas, it could be due to a natural gas leak in the unit or in the surrounding area. Natural gas has a recognizable aroma, often described as smelling similar to rotten eggs or sulfur. That’s because an odor is added to natural gas to make sure that it is easily detectable.
As we said earlier, a natural gas leak can be VERY harmful and calls for immediate attention. If you suspect a gas leak, turn off your air conditioning system, open windows and doors to air out the home, get everyone out of the building and contact your gas company or emergency services straight away.
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Fish
When your AC 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 is conducive to the growth of bacteria and mold. This can cause a disgusting odor that is often described as smelling like fish or, as mentioned earlier, it also can result in a smell like dirty feet.
Another potential cause of the smell could be a dead animal or other biological material stuck within the air conditioning system. This often can take place if an animal such as a mouse or bird becomes trapped inside the unit and dies.
To correct the issue, it’s often necessary to have a professional check out and clean your HVAC system. They should be able to determine the source of the smell and take the proper steps to remove any contaminants and keep the problem from recurring.
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Vinegar
There could be multiple reasons a home’s air conditioning system smells like vinegar. One possible cause of the smell could be a plugged air filter. A second possible cause of the smell might be a refrigerant leak. When the refrigerant leaks, it can generate a chemical odor that is described as smelling of vinegar.
To fix the issue, it’s important to have a skilled specialist inspect and clean your air conditioning. If the odor persists after the cleaning and exchanging the air filter, it’s best to reach back out to a professional to identify and repair any hidden issues with your air conditioning. Or, the mechanic can tell you if your air conditioning needs to be replaced.
If you are planning to upgrade, Booneville Heating & Cooling can help find the ideal unit to fit your home’s needs. We provide trustworthy, professional air conditioner installation in Booneville.
Your AC Smells Like Chemicals
If the smell of chemicals is emitting out of your air conditioning equipment, it could be due to a refrigerant leak. When the refrigerant leaks, it can create a chemical scent that is often described as smelling like chemicals or paint thinner, vinegar or acetone.
An additional possible source of the smell could be something wrong with the electrical wiring or hardware inside the air conditioning system. This can cause a burning smell that it similar to chemicals or burning plastic.
If you suspect a refrigerant leak or an electrical issue, 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 dangerous and may require immediate attention to avoid injury or damage to your residence.
Weird Smells Coming from Your Cooling? Call the Pros at Booneville Heating & Cooling
If your air conditioner reeks and you aren’t able to fix it quickly on your own, reach out to the cooling specialists at Booneville Heating & Cooling. We have years of experience working with a wide variety of air conditioning systems. Our crew has fixed a multitude of air conditioning problems through the years—including weird smells. Call us today for quality AC repair in Booneville!
