Odors in your home are no fun. They’re unpleasant, make things seem less clean and less restful, and it’s embarrassing to have people over when you have a stink around the house. Sometimes, it can be hard to track down the source of an odor, and you can clean for hours without managing to get rid of it. This can be especially true if a bad smell is being distributed all around your house by the HVAC system.
Why would a stinky odor be coming out of your vents? It could be that there’s a serious issue with your air conditioner. While many AC problems make loud noises, others are quieter but make themselves known to your nose. What kind of AC repairs are required to remedy a bad smell from your air conditioner? Here’s some helpful information for you. Whatever the issue, trust your nose and get prompt AC repair in Slidell, LA when you notice an odd odor around your air conditioner or near your vents.
If It Smells Hot
Overheating metal? Burning dust? Melting plastic? What is that smell? It means that something has gotten too hot inside your AC system. Maybe a thick layer of dust around the blower fan motor is causing it to overheat. Maybe there’s too much friction between moving parts from a lack of lubrication. Although it’s rare, it could be a hazardous electrical issue that could cause a fire.
These smells are serious. You should turn off the air conditioner right away and don’t use it until it’s been professionally repaired. A fire hazard is simply not worth risking. Side note: another odd odor you might smell from an electrical fire is a fishy smell. This is because both dead fish and electrical fires emit ammonia fumes.
If It Smells Musty
That back-of-the-used-bookstore, down-in-the-damp-basement smell of mildew means that somewhere, even if you can’t spot it yet, there is mold growing. Yikes! Mold inside your air conditioner? Yes, and it’s probably in the condensate pan. This is where moisture dripping from the evaporator coils gets caught and drained away from your home.
A mold problem here might be caused by a clogged condensate drain. Some air conditioners also have pumps to keep the condensate flowing out, so it’s possible there’s a pump problem. Either way, the drainage system needs to be disassembled and cleaned, and whatever initially led to the issue needs to be fixed.
If It Smells Sour
In this same condensate pan and drain assembly, it’s possible for something other than mold to grow. If you notice a vinegary odor, it is likely from bacteria growing. Again, the same process of professional cleaning and repair of the root of the problem is necessary.
If It Smells Like Sweet Chemicals
Refrigerant, which flows through the coils of your AC system, has a very unusual and distinctive odor. If you’ve ever smelled chloroform, you might find refrigerant to be similar. It is a chemical smell, but also sweet. Don’t ignore this odor! If refrigerant is where you can smell it, it’s leaking out of your air conditioner. The leaky spot needs to be found and repaired so the refrigerant can be topped up.