Seven Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Smells Bad

There’s nothing quite like coming inside from the heat to enjoy the cool conditioned air inside—except when it smells bad. If you’ve got funky odors coming from your air conditioner, it’s a good idea to get to the bottom of that problem as soon as possible.

Read on to learn about why your air conditioner smells bad in Oklahoma City, OK, and what you can do to fix it:

• Mold and mildew: We all know the smell of mold and mildew, so if that’s coming from your air conditioner, you’re probably dealing with excess moisture within the system. Make sure to replace your filters regularly, and have an HVAC technician come in and look for leaks or excessive drainage.
• Burning smells: When your air conditioner smells like it’s burning, it’s very likely that a component is frying. Your motor might be overheating, or there could be a problem with wiring and mechanical issues. Turn the AC off right away and call an HVAC contractor.
• Cigarette smoke: If you smoke in your home, the smell can collect in the evaporator coils and the filter, which means that when you turn the unit back on, it will blow cigarette-scented air all around your home. To avoid this, don’t smoke indoors, and change your filter.
• Dirty trash or dead animal smell: Sometimes animals crawl inside our air conditioners or the ductwork and die, making a rotten odor that smells like trash or dead animal. Turn the air conditioner off at once and open your doors and windows for ventilation. Then either call a pest control company or an HVAC technician for help.
• Sewage smells: Sewer gases can back up and infiltrate your home, especially if you have dry P-traps. Run the water in all of your sinks and tubs for a minute or two to fill the P-traps and create a buffer. If the smell persists, you might have a backed-up sewer line—call a plumber and HVAC contractor right away.
• Gas or rotten egg smell: If you smell gas or rotten eggs in your home, you need to act immediately. Gas is naturally odorless, so gas companies add a chemical to give it a distinct scent. If you smell gas, open all your doors and windows, do not operate any electrical appliances or start a fire and turn the gas supply off at the meter. If you can’t, call the gas company and try to get out of the house, if possible.
• Car exhaust smell: If your home suddenly smells like you’re living in a garage, you’ve probably got a leak in the refrigerant line. Not only does this impact your AC’s operation, but inhaling the fumes can be hazardous.

Noticing any of these weird air conditioner smells in your Oklahoma City, OK home? Call Dailey Heating & Air Conditioning today—our experienced team will identify the problem and fix it while you wait. We’ve been helping local home and business owning with all of their heating and cooling needs for over 25 years, and we looking forward to serving you soon.

Categorised in: Air Conditioning

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