Air conditioners are a much-needed modern convenience, especially in Florida. But, if you’re asking, “Why does my air conditioner smell?” then you’re probably not enjoying the cool air as much. Unfortunately, air conditioner odor is one of those things you might encounter from time to time, and it’s an indicator that something is wrong with your unit.
Altman’s Cooling & Heating is an AC repair company in New Smyrna Beach. Bad smells could be a sign of danger, or that you need a new unit, and we can help you get rid of them.
Common Smells Your AC Might Have
Air conditioning aroma shouldn’t be something you’re used to smelling. If you do smell it, there’s probably something going on under the hood that needs to be checked out by a professional.
Dirty Socks or Feet
If your AC is treating you to the awful smell of used gym socks or musty feet, there might be mold or grime built up in the system. Condensate lines, evaporator coils, and drain pans could have puddled water, allowing mold and mildew to grow in the system. Dirty air filters may also be responsible for the gym-like scent.
Burning
There are a few types of HVAC smells that smell like something is burning:
- Smoke: A general smoky smell could mean that something is burning. Investigate your AC unit to determine if anything is on fire. Flames may warrant a 911 call, but if you don’t see a reason for panic, call Alman’s Cooling & Heating so we can look at it. Smoky smells can easily turn into a bigger problem.
- Cigarettes: If you smell cigarette smoke wafting throughout your home, it’s likely due to someone smoking nearby. If someone smokes inside your home or near your unit, the AC unit will suck up the smoke and disperse it throughout your home.
- Exhaust: Exhaust smells are usually due to internal leaks. Condensation, gas, or refrigerant could be leaking onto hot parts of the system, such as the motor.
Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew can give off several odors, but they also have distinct odors of their own. The presence of either of these air conditioner smells needs to be addressed quickly so they don’t turn into bigger problems and health hazards. Maintain your air conditioner so it stays clean and doesn’t hold extra water to prevent the buildup of mold.
Sulfuric Smells
You may notice sulfuric smells reminiscent of garbage, rotten eggs, skunks, or gas. One cause of this may be due to a gas leak. Call in a professional immediately, as this is dangerous and could go south quickly.
Another much less pleasant reason for rotten smells is the presence of a dead animal inside your unit. A bird or rodent may have sought shelter inside your AC and couldn’t get out. After decomposing, the smell will travel through the home.
What To Do If Your AC Smells Bad
Once you realize your air conditioner is the culprit of foul smells in your home, there are a few things you can do.
- Check for Excess Moisture: Make sure the drain pan isn’t holding too much water, look for moisture in vents and air ducts, and check the evaporator coils. Where there’s moisture, there’s probably mold. This can cause moldy, musty, or dirty sock smells.
- Replace Air Filters: Dirty air filters may be the reason for bad smells. Replace or clean it and see if the smell goes away.
- Let Idle Units Run: Units in vacation homes are likely to give off a burning smell when you first turn it on, but it should go away after being left to run for a bit.
- Inspect Gas and Condensate Lines: Blocked condensate lines and leaky gas lines can cause all sorts of problems and smells.
- Remove Sources of Odor: Ask cigarette smokers politely to move away from your AC unit so their smoke doesn’t enter your home. Remove dead animals you find in or around your unit.
These are only temporary solutions to potentially big problems. Once you figure out why your air conditioner smells, call a professional to deal with the situation. They’ll be able to remedy the situation safely.
Call Altman’s To Fix Your AC in New Smyrna Beach, FL
Why does your air conditioner smell in New Smyrna Beach? Altman’s Cooling & Heating can help you figure it out if you don’t know how to do it. Call us today at 321-383-7910 to get on our schedule so we can figure out what’s causing those bad smells and ensure your system can run at the expected AC temperature.