When your air conditioner starts spewing weird or gross odors, it is necessary to take notice because it could be a sign of a major problem. Disregarding unpleasant smells coming from your cooling system may lead to additional damage to your AC 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 sign something mechanically wrong with the air conditioner. Some smells are a warning of a dangerous problem, including a natural gas leak.
At Country Thyme AC & Home Services, we are experienced at getting to the root cause of stinky smells. If you smell something weird coming from your air conditioner, there’s a good chance our team of qualified professionals has smelled it, too—and fixed it! We’ve earned a reputation as the first call for air conditioning repair in Austin.
What does a specific odor coming from your air conditioning mean? Here are several frequent air conditioner odors and what they could mean:
My Air Conditioner Smells Like Feet
If your air conditioner smells like feet, it may be because of a buildup of bacteria or fungus in the system. When moisture accumulates inside the unit, it can produce an environment that is beneficial to the development of bacteria and fungus. This can result in a bad odor that is often described as smelling like stinky feet.
Another potential reason for the smell could be a dirty air filter. When the air filter becomes clogged with dirt, dust and other debris, it can result in poor air quality and a musty smell that resembles 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 regularly to provide good air quality and restrict the growth of bacteria and fungus.
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Rotten Eggs
If your air conditioning equipment smells like rotten eggs, it may be caused by a natural gas leak in the unit or in the surrounding area. Natural gas has a distinct odor, often described as smelling like rotten eggs or sulfur, which is 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, evacuate the building and call your gas company or emergency services immediately.
The Air Conditioning Smells Like Mildew
If your AC smells like mildew, it could be due to a collection of moisture inside the unit. When moisture forms inside the air conditioning system, it can cultivate the growth of mold and mildew. This can cause a musty smell that resembles mildew.
Another possible reason for the smell might be a dirty air filter. When the air filter becomes clogged, it can lead to poor air quality and a musty smell that has a resemblance to mildew.
Annual air conditioning maintenance from Country Thyme AC & Home Services can help prevent both of these problems, because a good cleaning, inspection and filter change is a great way to keep your system working at its best!
Your AC Smells Like Urine
One of the most unpleasant situations is when the air coming out of your HVAC system smells like urine.
If your air conditioner reeks of urine, it could be traced back to a number of things. One possible cause is a buildup of bacteria or mold in the your HVAC. This can happen in the event that moisture accumulates in the system and creates a moist environment that favorable for bacterial growth. The bacteria can emit a foul odor that some people describe as smelling like urine.
Another possible cause of the smell could be a plugged drain line. The condensation that forms inside the air conditioning unit needs to drain away properly, but if the drain line becomes stopped up by debris, it can cause water to back up and collect inside the unit. This can generate a musty smell that resembles urine.
My Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic
If your air conditioning system smells like burning plastic, a possible cause could be an electrical issue with the unit. Over time, the electrical components in the air conditioning system can wear out or break, which can produce a burning smell that resembles plastic.
Another possible reason for the smell could be a foreign object that somehow got in the HVAC system. If something foreign gets trapped in the air conditioning system, it can become hot and cause a smell like burning plastic.
If you smell burning plastic coming from your cooling system, it’s worthwhile to call a professional right away.
Your AC Smells Like Gas
If your air conditioner smells like gas, it could be because of a natural gas leak in the unit or in another part of your home. Natural gas has a recognizable odor, often described as smelling of rotten eggs or sulfur. That’s because this scent is put into natural gas so that it is easily detectable.
As we said earlier, a natural gas leak can be VERY dangerous and requires immediate attention. When you suspect a gas leak, turn off your air conditioning system, open windows and doors to air out the home, evacuate the building and phone your gas company or emergency services as soon as possible.
Your AC Smells Like Fish
Should your AC smell like fish, it could be due to a build-up of bacteria or mold in the unit. Moisture produces an environment that promotes 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 create a smell like dirty feet.
Another plausible explanation for the smell could be a dead animal or other biological material caught within the air conditioning system. This often can take place if an animal such as a mouse or bird is trapped inside the unit and dies.
To fix the issue, it’s worthwhile to have a professional check out and clean your air conditioning system. They can determine the source of the smell and take the correct steps to remove any contaminants and stop the problem from recurring.
Why My Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar
There could be multiple reasons a home’s air conditioner smells like vinegar. One possible cause is a plugged air filter. Another potential cause of the smell could be a refrigerant leak. Sometimes after the refrigerant leaks, it can generate a chemical odor that is similar to vinegar.
To fix the issue, it’s beneficial 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 underlying issues with your air conditioning. Or, they can tell you if your air conditioning should be replaced.
If you are planning to upgrade, Country Thyme AC & Home Services can help find the right unit to fit your home’s needs. We provide dependable, expert air conditioner installation in Austin.
My Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals
If the smell of chemicals is emitting out of your air conditioning unit, it could be the result of a refrigerant leak. In a situation where the refrigerant leaks, it can create a chemical odor that people sometimes describe as smelling like chemicals or paint thinner, vinegar or acetone.
An additional possible source of the smell could be problems with the electrical wiring or components inside the air conditioning system. This can result in a burning smell that it similar to chemicals or burning plastic.
If you suspect a refrigerant leak or an electrical problem, it’s important to shut off your air conditioning system immediately and contact a professional to inspect and repair the unit. Refrigerant leaks can be harmful and may require immediate attention to prevent injury or damage to your residence.
A Nasty Odor Coming from the Air Conditioning? Contact the Experts at Country Thyme AC & Home Services
If your air conditioner smells nasty and you aren’t able to fix it quickly on your own, reach out to the cooling professionals at Country Thyme AC & Home Services. We have plenty of experience working with a wide variety of air conditioning systems. Our crew has fixed countless air conditioning troubles over the years—including strange smells. Call us today for quality AC repair in Austin!