When you turn your air conditioner on during a hot California day, the last thing you want is for a foul smell to fill your home. On top of making your living space uncomfortable, these odors can also indicate underlying issues with your AC unit. While the problem may be minor, it’s important not to brush it aside. Some air conditioner smells are a sign of a health hazard.
Keep reading to discover the potential causes of a smelly air conditioner and how you can fix them.
The air filter within your AC system captures airborne contaminants and bacteria and prevents them from entering the clean air circulating through your home. Failure to properly maintain your air filter leads to bacteria and microbes building up, which causes your system to smell. As your air conditioner pushes air through the filter, the bad smells travel throughout your home.
Change your air filter every three months to prevent buildup. You can do this at home or have an experienced technician change it by scheduling a professional maintenance visit. There are reusable, washable filters. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on best cleaning practices.
If there is excess humidity or moisture in the HVAC system, you could end up with mold and mildew flowing through the ductwork, carrying a musty smell everywhere they travel. To help prevent mildew and moisture problems, fix all water leaks, improve drainage, schedule bi-annual HVAC tune-ups, and frequently replace or clean your HVAC filters.
If you have exposed earth in your crawlspace or basement, you can investigate ways to cover the soil.
A whole-home dehumidifier is the best way to protect your belongings and prevent mold and mildew from forming in your home and HVAC system. The dehumidifier connects directly to your existing HVAC system and automatically removes moisture from the air, depositing the condensate outdoors.
When scheduling your air conditioning tune-up, ensure the company you hire includes a full cleaning. An annual inspection and maintenance service should include a drain line clearing, evaporator coil cleaning, and detect any mold or mildew problems.
The air conditioner drain line takes moisture away from your home. Dirt, debris, and other particles can easily enter the line. When this happens, your drain line can clog, leading to moisture buildup, mildew, algae, and bacteria growth, and a musty smell. If you suspect your drain line is clogged, contact a technician to clear it as soon as possible.
If something smells like it’s burning, it probably is. A burning air conditioner smell can come from an overheating motor, a wiring issue, or other serious mechanical problems. If you notice a burning smell, immediately turn the HVAC system off from the breaker box.
Sometimes, the smell may resemble a combination of sulfur and metal, or gunpowder, indicating a short from the AC’s circuit board or fan motor.
If the burning odor persists, evacuate the home and contact the fire department. Sometimes, melting plastic components can produce a fishy or rotten egg smell. Turn off the power to the circuits from the breaker box, evacuate the home, and contact the fire department.
After your home is safe to re-enter, schedule service with an HVAC technician to ensure that your air conditioner does not have electrical or mechanical problems.
Refrigerant, often referred to as Freon, helps to remove heat from the atmosphere and cool the air. While it’s safe when trapped inside your AC system, it can harm your health if it leaks out.
If you notice a sweet or chloroform smell coming from your AC unit, turn it off immediately and contact a professional. Refrigerant leaks can be toxic and significantly impact your health and the environment.
While you’d likely suspect a dirty sock smell to come from your laundry pile, it may actually be coming from your air conditioner. Dirty evaporator coils, clogged condensate drain pans, and stagnant water can cause the smell of dirty socks or stinky feet to fill your home as mold and bacteria multiply within your unit.
If your AC unit has fallen victim to dirty sock syndrome, contact a professional for cleaning as soon as possible. If left untreated, it can affect the air quality of your home.
Never ignore the smell of rotten eggs in your home. It could be the smell of leaking gas! While natural gas is naturally odorless, manufacturers are required to add a chemical called mercaptan to give it that distinctive rotten-egg gas smell.
A gas leak that travels outdoors will leave a path of grass or shrubs that have changed to a sickly brown or orange-y color.
If you smell rotten eggs coming through your vents:
Don’t operate anything electrical
Don’t use matches or lighters
If there are any open flames, such as candles, put them out immediately
Open as many doors and windows as you can
Turn off your gas supply at the meter. If you can’t turn the gas off at home, the gas company will do it for you.
Evacuate the building
Contact the gas company
Do not turn the gas back on — wait for the gas company
Along with being unpleasant, air conditioner odors can significantly impact your health and home comfort. Thankfully, there are steps you can take at home to prevent AC odors, including:
Changing the filters
Cleaning the unit
Performing regular inspections
Using an air purifier
Checking for leaks
In addition to these steps, it’s essential to schedule regular air conditioning maintenance for your home. During an annual maintenance visit, the technician will inspect, clean, and test your system to ensure everything works as it should.
If your air conditioner is stinking up your Northern California home, call Service Champions. Our experienced technicians provide trustworthy, on-time heating and air conditioning services.
With thousands of five-star reviews, you can trust that you’re hiring the best. Our technicians have the experience and tools to get the job done right and on time. If you’re unsatisfied with your service for any reason, you can take advantage of our money-back guarantee.
Book online or call us today to schedule your AC maintenance visit and stop stinky smells in their tracks! Don’t forget to ask about our flexible financing options and MVP membership.
If your AC unit produces an odor when you first turn it on, this is a sign of a broken part, clog, or leak within the unit. Contact a professional as soon as possible to prevent further damage and a negative impact on your health.
The smell coming from your AC unit will be gone the second the service is complete. During the visit, a technician will assess and fix the issue, cleaning as they go to effectively remove the cause of the smell.
While you may think about turning your HVAC system off before a vacation to save on energy bills, this can actually cause mold, moisture, and dust build-up. It’s best to leave your AC system on and set it to a higher temperature, around 75 to 80 degrees, before leaving your home.