Why Your Air Conditioner Smells and How to Fix It

When your air conditioner starts putting out unusual or gross odors, it is necessary to take notice because it could be a sign of a significant problem. Disregarding unpleasant smells coming from your air conditioner may lead to serious damage to your air conditioning or even pose a risk to your health and safety.

Depending on what you're smelling, the culprit might be bacteria or fungus in the system. Other times, it could also signal something mechanically wrong with the air conditioner. Some smells are a warning of a dangerous problem, like a natural gas leak.

At J.L. Brady Company LLC, we have a nose for these sorts of things. If you smell something odd coming from your cooling system, you can bet that our team of skilled professionals has smelled it, too—and fixed it! We’ve earned the reputation as the first call for air conditioning repair in Moline.

What does a certain smell billowing from your cooling system mean? Here are several typical air conditioner odors and what they might mean:

Your AC Smells Like Feet

If your air conditioner smells like feet, it could be caused by a buildup of bacteria or fungus in the system. When moisture accumulates inside the unit, it can establish an environment that is beneficial to the development of bacteria and fungus. This can produce a foul odor that is often described as smelling like dirty feet.

Another likely reason for an odor of stinky feet could be a dirty air filter. If an air filter becomes choked with dirt, dust and other debris, it can lead to substandard air quality and a musty smell that resembles feet.

To solve this unpleasant situation, it's important to have a professional inspect and clean your air conditioning system, including the evaporator coil, drain pan and condensate drain line. It's also important to replace the air filter on a regular basis to provide good air quality and prevent the development of bacteria and fungus.

The Air Conditioning Smells Like Rotten Eggs

If your reeks of rotten eggs, it might be caused by a natural gas leak in the unit or in the surrounding area. Natural gas has a distinctive odor, often described as smelling like rotten eggs or sulfur, which is added to it to make it easily detectable.

A natural gas leak is a situation that is extremely dangerous and requires immediate attention. If you suspect a gas leak, turn off your air conditioning system, immediately open windows and doors to air out the area, get everyone out of the building and call your gas company or emergency services right away.

Your AC Smells Like Mildew

If your cooling system is giving off an odor like mildew, it might be due to a accumulation of moisture inside the unit. When moisture accumulates inside a cooling system, it can promote the growth of mold and mildew. This can cause a musty odor that bears a resemblance to mildew.

Another possible cause of the smell could be a clogged air filter. When the air filter becomes clogged, it can lead to poor air quality and a musty smell that resembles mildew.

Routine air conditioning maintenance from J.L. Brady Company LLC can help protect against both of these problems, because a good cleaning, inspection and filter change is a very good way to keep your system operating at its best!

My Air Conditioner Smells Like Urine

One of the most undesirable situations is when the air coming out of your HVAC system smells like urine.

If your air conditioning stinks like urine, it could be traced back to a number of things. One potential cause is a buildup of bacteria or mold in the your cooling system. This can happen in the event that moisture accumulates in the system and creates a moist environment that can promote bacterial growth. The bacteria can create a foul odor that is like urine.

Another feasible cause of the scent of urine could be a plugged drain line. The condensation that forms inside the air conditioning unit needs to drain away effectively, but if the drain line becomes choked with debris, it can cause water to back up and build up inside the unit. This can generate a musty smell that resembles urine.

My Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic

If your air conditioning unit smells like burning plastic, this could indicate an electrical concern with the unit. After a while, the electrical elements in the air conditioning system can wear out or bust, which can make a burning smell that resembles plastic.

Another possible root cause of the smell could be a foreign object stuck in the HVAC system. If something foreign gets stuck in the air conditioning system, it can get hot and result in a smell like burning plastic.

If you notice something that smells like burning plastic coming from your AC unit, it’s essential to contact a professional right away.

Your AC Smells Like Gas

If your air conditioner smells like gas, there could be a natural gas leak in the unit or in the surrounding area. Natural gas has a recognizable odor, often described as smelling similar to rotten eggs or sulfur. That’s because a smell is added to natural gas so that it is easily detectable.

As mentioned previously, a natural gas leak can be VERY hazardous and needs immediate attention. Should you suspect a gas leak, turn off your air conditioning system, open windows and doors to air out the home, get everyone out of the building and contact your gas company or emergency services straight away.

The Air Conditioning Smells Like Fish

If your AC smell like fish, you may have a situation where there's a build-up of bacteria or mold in the unit. Moisture produces an environment that fosters the growth of bacteria and mold. This can cause a strong odor that is often described as smelling like fish or, as mentioned earlier, it also can create a smell like dirty feet.

Another possible cause of the smell could be a dead animal or other biological material trapped within the air conditioning system. This often can happen if an animal such as a mouse or bird gets trapped inside the unit and dies.

To fix the issue, it's often necessary to have a professional check out and clean your HVAC system. They will be able to identify the source of the smell and take the appropriate steps to remove any contaminants and keep the problem from recurring.

My Air Conditioner Smells Like Vinegar

There could be several reasons an air conditioning system smells like vinegar. One possible cause of the smell could be a dirty air filter. Another potential cause of the smell might be a refrigerant leak. When the refrigerant leaks, it can generate a chemical odor that resembles vinegar.

To fix the issue, it's essential to have a skilled specialist inspect and clean your air conditioning.  If the odor persists after the cleaning and changing of the air filter, it's best to reach back out to a professional to find and repair any hidden issues with your air conditioning. Or, they can tell you if your air conditioning ought to be replaced.

If you are planning to upgrade, J.L. Brady Company LLC can help find the ideal unit to fit your home’s needs. We deliver reliable, professional air conditioner installation in Moline.

My Air Conditioner Smells Like Chemicals

If the smell of chemicals is coming out of your air conditioning unit, it could be due to a refrigerant leak. If the refrigerant leaks, it can create a chemical aroma that is often described as smelling like chemicals or paint thinner, vinegar or acetone.

Another possible reason for the smell could be problems with the electrical wiring or elements inside the air conditioning system. This can cause a burning smell that resembles chemicals or burning plastic.

If you think your system has a refrigerant leak or an electrical problem, it's important to shut down your air conditioning system right away and contact a professional to inspect and repair the unit. Refrigerant leaks can be dangerous and may require immediate attention to protect against injury or damage to your home.

Weird Smells Coming from the Air Conditioning? Call the Pros at J.L. Brady Company LLC

If your air conditioner reeks and you aren’t able to fix it quickly on your own, contact the cooling experts at J.L. Brady Company LLC. We have plenty of experience working with a wide variety of HVAC systems. Our crew has fixed countless air conditioning concerns over the years—including weird smells. Call us today for quality AC repair in Moline!