When your air conditioner starts spewing weird or gross odors, it is important to take notice because it could be a sign of a big problem. Ignoring unpleasant smells coming from your cooling system could 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 root of the problem might be bacteria or fungus in the system. On the other hand, it could also indicate something mechanically wrong with the air conditioner. Some smells are even indicative of a hazardous problem, like a natural gas leak.
At Miller Climate Control LLC, we have a nose for these sorts of things. If you smell something peculiar coming from your cooling system, there’s a good chance our team of talented pros has smelled it, too—and fixed it! We’ve earned the reputation as the go-to team for air conditioning repair in Georgetown.
What does a particular smell coming from your air conditioning mean? Here are some frequent air conditioner aromas and what they might 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 inside of it. When moisture accumulates inside the unit, it can create an environment that is beneficial to the spread of bacteria and fungus. This can produce 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 filled with dirt, dust and other contaminants, it can result in low air quality and a musty smell that resembles feet.
To correct this unpleasant situation, 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 on a regular basis to promote good air quality and protect against the development of bacteria and fungus.
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Rotten Eggs
If your air conditioning unit stinks like rotten eggs, it could be due to 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, which is because of a substance added to it to make it easily detectable.
A natural gas leak is a situation that is very 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, get everyone out of the building and call your gas company or emergency services immediately.
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Mildew
If your cooling system smells like mildew, it could be due to a collection of moisture inside the unit. When moisture accumulates inside a cooling system, it can foster the growth of mold and mildew. This can cause a musty stench that it similar to mildew.
Another possible cause of the smell may be a clogged air filter. When the air filter becomes clogged, it can result in poor air quality and a musty smell that resembles mildew.
Routine air conditioning maintenance from Miller Climate Control LLC can help avoid both of these situations, because a good cleaning, inspection and filter change is a great way to keep your system working at its best!
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Urine
One of the most unpleasant things is when an air conditioner smells like urine.
If your air conditioning equipment stinks like urine, it could could be caused by multiple factors. One likely cause is a accumulation of bacteria or mold in the your cooling system. This can happen when moisture accumulates in the system and creates a moist environment that is conducive to bacterial growth. The bacteria can emit a foul odor that is like urine.
Another possible cause of the smell could be a blocked drain line. The condensation that forms inside the air conditioning unit needs to drain away properly, but if the drain line becomes clogged with debris, it can cause water to back up and accumulate inside the unit. This can generate a musty smell that resembles urine.
My Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic
If your AC smells like burning plastic, it might be because of an electrical problem with the unit. After some time, the electrical components in the air conditioning system can wear out or break, which can make a burning smell that resembles plastic.
Another possible cause of the smell could be a foreign object lodged in the HVAC system. If something foreign gets caught in the air conditioning system, it can heat up and cause a smell like burning plastic.
If you smell burning plastic coming from your AC unit, it’s essential to call a professional right away.
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Gas
If your air conditioner smells like gas, there could be a natural gas leak in the unit or in the surrounding area. Natural gas has a distinctive odor, often described as smelling similar to rotten eggs or sulfur. That’s because this scent is added to natural gas so that it is easily detectable.
As we said before, a natural gas leak can be VERY dangerous and requires immediate attention. Should 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 call your gas company or emergency services as soon as possible.
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Fish
Should 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 foul odor that can be described as smelling like fish or, as mentioned earlier, it also can result in a smell like dirty feet.
Another plausible explanation for the smell could be a dead animal or other biological material stuck within the air conditioning system. This often is possible if an animal such as a mouse or bird gets trapped inside the unit and dies.
To solve the issue, it’s often necessary to have a professional examine and clean your air conditioning system. They can identify the source of the smell and take the proper steps to remove any contaminants and prevent the problem from recurring.
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Vinegar
There could be numerous reasons a home’s air conditioning system smells like vinegar. One possible cause is a plugged air filter. Another possible cause of the smell may be a refrigerant leak. When the refrigerant leaks, it can make a chemical odor that is similar to vinegar.
To fix the issue, it’s beneficial to have a skilled mechanic examine and clean your air conditioning. If the odor persists after the cleaning and changing of the air filter, it’s best to reach back out to a professional to identify and repair any underlying issues with your air conditioning. Or, the tech can tell you if your air conditioning ought to be replaced.
If you are looking to upgrade, Miller Climate Control LLC can help select the correct unit to fit your home’s needs. We deliver trustworthy, skilled air conditioner installation in Georgetown.
My Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If the smell of chemicals is coming from your air conditioning equipment, it could be the result of a refrigerant leak. In a situation where the refrigerant leaks, it can create a chemical aroma that is often described as smelling like chemicals or paint thinner, vinegar or acetone.
One other possible source of the smell could be a problem with the electrical wiring or parts inside the air conditioning system. This can cause a burning smell that it similar to chemicals or burning plastic.
If you think your system has a refrigerant leak or an electrical concern, it’s important to shut down your air conditioning system right away and contact a professional to inspect and repair the unit. Refrigerant leaks can be dangerous and may require immediate attention to prevent injury or damage to your residence.
Weird Smells Coming from Your AC? Call the Pros at Miller Climate Control LLC
If your air conditioner stinks and you aren’t able to fix it quickly on your own, call the cooling professionals at Miller Climate Control LLC. We have lots of experience working with a wide variety of air conditioning systems. Our crew has fixed a multitude of air conditioning concerns through the years—including strange smells. Call us today for quality AC repair in Georgetown!
