Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell Like……?
When you run the air conditioner, all you want is to enjoy nice, cool air entering your home. If a nasty smell is laced with the cool air though, it tends to ruin the refreshing sensation. Needless to say, you want to get rid of the odor as soon as possible. Learn the reasons behind different A/C smells and how to fix them.
Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell Like Mildew?
As the most common smell accompanying cold air from an A/C unit, a moldy odor undoubtedly means mildew or fungus is growing in or around the air conditioner. It’s really not that surprising. After all, in addition to cooling the air in your home, air conditioners also remove excess moisture. If it’s not drained away properly, mold may begin to grow on areas with lingering moisture. Even a dirty filter can cause the smell of mildew to waft from supply registers. Hire a professional to clean your air conditioner, replace the filter, and get rid of the mildew smell.
Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell Like Rotten Eggs?
A dead animal is the most common cause of a rotten, spoiled egg smell coming from the air vents. An injured or sick bird or rodent may have climbed inside an air duct during the winter where it died and began decomposing. Then, when you turn on your A/C for the first time in the summer, a pungent odor ruins the effect of cool air entering your home. You need to have your ducts professionally cleaned to wipe out any rodent remains.
Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell Like Sewage?
This odor may be emanating from a backed up sewer line or ruptured sewer vent pipe near the duct system. All it takes is a little methane gas from the sewage leak to get into the ductwork and your entire home may smell like a sewer. Methane gas is dangerous, so if you smell a sewage odor, contact an HVAC technician without delay to look into the problem.
Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell Like Feet?
A dirty, clogged air conditioner may emit a stinky feet smell. This is caused by stagnant water that collects in the system and isn’t drained away properly. A thorough cleaning by a professional should be enough to remedy the problem.
Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell Like Skunk?
This smell could be caused by a dead skunk in or around the ductwork, but that’s not very probable. What’s much more likely is that gas is leaking from somewhere. Methyl mercaptan from the gas leak, which smells very similar to skunk spray, may be entering the ductwork and circulating around your home. If this happens, it could endanger your family. Get out of the house and call an HVAC technician and your gas company immediately.
Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell Like Gun Powder?
A shorted out circuit board or fan motor may send a gun powder smell out of the supply registers when the air conditioner initially cycles on. A professional can take a look at your system and recommend replacing aging parts if necessary.
Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell Like Exhaust Fumes?
Your air conditioner is powered by electricity, not gas, but the engine and a few other components have fluids inside that can leak out. If this happens, the smell of exhaust fumes may permeate your home. To prevent a harmful situation from developing, have the A/C fixed as soon as possible.