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Why Your AC Smells Funny

You haven’t been using your air conditioner for a while, but you’ve fired it up for the first time this season… something is off. Your air conditioner smells really funky. There’s a foul scent emitting from it every time you choose to run the system. This is a clear sign that you need air conditioning repair in Concord, MA.

Your air conditioner should never smell funny, and it should never pick up any new tricks. Yours is probably ticking off both boxes if it has suddenly started to smell “off.” We’re going to help you understand the reason behind this so you can get the issue fixed.

A Few Reasons Why Your AC Smells

Below, we’ve broken down the potential problems that you might have by scent. If you notice that your unique scent can’t be categorized as any of the ones listed here, you can contact us directly. Our professionals can diagnose what you’re dealing with no matter what.

A Moldy, Mildew Scent

This is one of the more common scents that we have homeowners call us about. Moldy smells are typically due to excess moisture somewhere in your home. If your air conditioner isn’t draining properly, then the excess moisture might stick around and have difficulty draining properly. Mildew and mold spores are harmful to your personal health. Make sure that when you note this problem, you get a professional out to your home as soon as possible to fix it.

A Sulfuric, Rotten Egg Scent

When you turn on your air conditioner, does your home start to smell like rotten eggs? This could be an animal problem. You might notice that there are squirrels or other rodents leaving their excrement near a vital part of your air conditioner.

Have you had a recent infestation? This smell could also be due to a carcass of one of the rodents left in your ductwork. Both problems are big issues and should be addressed promptly.

Exhaust Fumes

There’s no good reason that your air conditioner should smell like car exhaust. This points to a leak in your refrigerant line. What you’re most likely smelling is the fluid itself heating up. These chemicals aren’t great for you and they shouldn’t be allowed to heat up and emit smells for long.

Gun Powder

When we say “gun powder” here, we’re describing something that’s along the lines of a burning scent. This can happen when parts of your home’s air conditioner start to short circuit. This is typically from a part of your system that you really need like the fan motor or the circuit board. This is an issue that you want to address promptly. Any burning scent that you notice can be dangerous.

Dirty Socks or Stinky Feet

You turn on your air conditioner and you notice the scent of stinky socks or sweaty feet. Describing this as “unpleasant” would be an understatement. This is something that’s an unexpected and unwelcomed shock coming from your home’s air conditioner. This scent happens because of stagnant water most likely sitting in your condensate pan. Water that’s just sitting that can begin to create mold and smell. This can create a dirty sock or stink feet smell.

Contact Cooling Unlimited, Inc. today to schedule an appointment for your AC care.

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