A bad smell coming from your Air Conditioning unit is never a good indication. It’s definitely not good for your health. Even more distressing is the fact that certain smells are hazardous and must be dealt with immediately. We’ve compiled a list of the top seven air-conditioning smells!
7 Harmful Aircon Smells and What They Mean
Why does my air conditioner smell so bad? It’s possible that your air conditioner needs some maintenance or repair. Any time your air conditioning system starts to smell, you know something is wrong. To make things worse, certain smells are hazardous and need immediate medical attention. For the sake of your well-being, you should do it.
There is nothing more annoying or uncomfortable than having an air conditioner that isn’t functioning correctly in your house. Luckily, it’s pretty good at letting you know when it needs to be serviced. Many people have complained about the unpleasant smells coming from their HVAC system. Repairing a smell issue does not need a large outlay of cash on your part. It can be a clogged air filter or moisture that has caused the unit to become contaminated with mold.
Some smells from your air conditioner that can be dangerous are:
1. Burning smell
Components and circuits make up a large portion of air conditioning. All electrical devices have the risk of malfunctions, and this one is no exception. An electronic gadget that is on fire will give out a burning odour. There are a variety of reasons for this, including water leaks and overheating.
If the odour goes away immediately, there’ll be no need to be worried. However, if the smell remains or the unit emits smoke, you should stop using it immediately and contact an HVAC specialist. Every year, you should make an appointment for an annual service to keep your pipes clear.
2. The Smell of Gunpowder
The odour of gunpowder is similar to that of electrical odours. An overheated fan motor or a faulty circuit board might be the cause of an unique smell like gunpowder.
Again, since they are created from a variety of metals and chemicals, your heart and lungs are at risk. A trained expert has to go at a system after it has been turned off for an extended length of time in order to determine whether or not it is safe to restart.
3. Rotten Eggs
If your home’s air conditioning unit stinks like rotten eggs, it’s probable that you have a natural gas leakage. Despite the fact that natural gas is odourless on its own, most power suppliers add the odour to warn consumers of a potentially deadly leakage.
This is no laughing matter. If your house has a rotten-egg smell, it’s probably caused by natural gas, so have it checked out right once. Exposure to low amounts is not harmful to human health; but, exposure to high levels can cause a reduction in the amount of oxygen found in the blood, which can result in unconsciousness and even death. Gas is also very volatile and explosive, leading to dozens of fatalities every year. The gas company should be contacted as soon as possible if you detect this scent in your home.
4. Exhaust Fumes
Although your units are not driven by gas, there is still a possibility that exhaust fumes will be present in your home if fluids escape from certain parts in your heating and air conditioning systems. If you notice exhaust-like smells coming from your HVAC system, you should call a local HVAC specialist to have the issue fixed. When oil and other fluids are burned, they can emit significant quantities of poisonous gas into the surrounding environment. It is possible for this gas to have a different chemical composition than it does in its liquid form. Inhaling these particles can be very dangerous to your health since they reduce the amount of oxygen in your blood, which can lead to a wide variety of significant health problems.
5. Chemical Aroma
Be cautious if you notice that your ac unit stinks like chemicals such as paint thinner or even formaldehyde. When your ac unit is malfunctioning, it can emit a variety of chemical aromas, which requires immediate AC repair services.
6. Sulphur smell
If you’re using an air conditioner and notice a pungent smell of methane or sulphur, you may have a dead animal or rat in your unit. There have been several reports of animals such as rats, lizards, birds, and even possums making their way into the compressor’s ducts, only to be killed when they get stuck.
After just a few short days, they’ll emit a distinct odour that you won’t confuse with anything else. Fortunately, our professionals can fix this issue and determine if the device’s performance has been damaged.
7. Mildew or mold smell
If you notice a musty or moldy scent coming from your air conditioning unit, you may have a leakage in the unit. Drip lines, drain pans, and evaporator coils can all get clogged and begin to leak. Mildew and other fungi can thrive in a pool of water that has leaked. Some typical sources of foul smells are mildew and mold.
Moreover, a musty smell can result from a filthy air filter in humid areas. Undesirable odours and poor air quality can be caused by the excess moisture that collects on the filters. As a result, we advise brushing and cleaning your air filters almost every 3 months to remove dust and other debris. A clogged filter is simple to remove and replace. However, if you have a leakage, you will require the help of a professional.
Summary
Use all of your senses while analyzing the smell. Consider the sound of any clunking or banging as a warning sign. Observe the ground and look for any liquids that aren’t supposed to be there. Many smells, like when your air vents stink musty, don’t mean there’s a danger right away. The presence of odours is often an indication that your system requires servicing.
More dangerous are the foul scents of rotting eggs or gas. If you detect an electrical, burning, or gas odour, immediately shut off the system and contact a qualified HVAC expert. An on-site examination by a professional will provide an answer to the question “Why does my AC stink?” and will also provide recommendations for possible solutions. If you need any ac maintenance service, socool is the best option as their professional team does their work efficiently.