You can’t get through the height of summer without running your air conditioner. Eventually, there comes a point where it becomes unsafe to stay in your home without proper cooling equipment. But what if your AC unit is releasing unpleasant smells? You don’t want to sweat it out in a warm house, but you also don’t want to put up with funky odors being emitted by your system. Keep reading to learn why your air conditioner may smell, and don’t forget, for all the expert AC services you need, you can always count on All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical.
5 Common Odors That May Come Out of Your AC Unit
- Sweaty, Feet-Like Odor: If you’ve ever walked into a gym locker room, you’ve probably smelled that sweaty odor, sort of like stinky feet. But why would this smell come out of your AC unit? It all has to do with moisture accumulation. When the water from your system does not drain properly, and you end up with standing water inside the unit, you can end up detecting that dirty sock smell. The good news is that this can be taken care of with a professional cleaning. This should always be done promptly, lest you end up dealing with…
- Mold/Mildew Smell: Where there is excess moisture, mold and mildew generally aren’t far behind. This can be a big problem, since mold and mildew not only smell bad, but can also affect your indoor air quality. When mold spores make their way into your air, they can cause health issues such as coughing, sneezing, itchy skin, watery eyes, headaches, nausea, and even joint pain. Air conditioners remove excess moisture from your home, in addition to cooling it, so it is not uncommon to detect this smell. Still, you should always call a professional right away for a cleaning and possible filter change if you detect the odor of mold and mildew.
- Exhaust Fumes: Obviously, your air conditioner isn’t gas-powered, so if it starts to smell like it’s releasing gas fumes, you’re probably going to be concerned. Typically, this odor comes from fluids in the engine and other parts of your AC accidentally leaking out of the unit. Call a technician to handle this situation, as there could be an internal mechanical problem you have to take care of ASAP.
- Burning Smell: We’ve all smelled that burning scene before. It’s the odor of gun powder being used, or electrical wires melting (of course, in the average home, one of these scenarios is far more likely than the other.) If you have sniffed this burning smell coming from your air conditioner call a technician immediately to have it inspected, as your system’s fan motor or circuit board may have shorted out.
- Skunk: Unless there’s a skunk actually outside your home, when you get a whiff of a skunk odor within your house, the problem is usually gas-related. If you smell this odor coming from your AC system, you are probably dealing with a gas leak—specifically methyl mercaptan. Once this odor gets into your ductwork, it may travel around your entire home, creating a not only unpleasant but dangerous environment for your entire household. To protect your family, you should evacuate them immediately whenever you detect a gas leak, and call a professional right away. Our experts at All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical know how to get the source of the problem, keeping your family and property safe no matter what.
To request emergency service with All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, call 24/7 at (909) 500-8193. You can also click here to send us a message online. Remember, we are here for all your heating and cooling needs!