Does Your Air Smell Strange? Professional Solutions To AC Odor

If your AC system runs for even half of the hours in a day, your HVAC system moves over 20 tons of air every day! That’s a lot of air to cool and circulate into your living spaces, but it also leaves a lot of room for things to go wrong. If you’ve noticed that your air conditioner smells musty or is producing strange smells in your home, don’t ignore it!

Efficient Systems is here to help you recognize the common AC smells that indicate a problem in your home. Plus, we can share how you or an AC professional can provide the best AC cleaning solution to get back that crisp, fresh air to your home.

AC Odors That Indicate Repairs

Exhaust Smell

Because your AC system is not powered by a combustion engine, there is no normal reason for you to smell exhaust fumes or chemicals in your air. This smell is likely from the chemicals that are used in the unit to complete the cooling process on your air.

The most common chemical to cause an issue in your system is refrigerant. If you have a refrigerant leak, you may be inhaling the fumes traveling through the vents. Make sure your home is well ventilated until a professional can service your AC unit. It is important to leave refrigerant repairs to a licensed professional because exposure to human skin can be very dangerous.

Burning or Fire Smell

Your AC unit is powered by electricity, so there’s always the possibility that an electrical component has shorted out within the AC unit. If you smell burnt plastic or smoke, you want to avoid a full-blown fire by shutting down the system. Contact a professional to assess what repairs you need to be completed before you can turn the unit back on.

Gas or Skunk Smell

Natural gas is odorless, but manufacturers insert a chemical into it that smells like a skunk or rotten eggs. If you smell this odor coming directly from your air vents, you could have a gas leak. Gas leaks are incredibly dangerous and can quickly cause explosions and fires. If you can, turn off your gas supply. Then leave the area immediately before calling a gas company or 911 for assistance. 

Rotting or Foul Smell

Since your air vents and AC connect the inside air to the outside, it is rather common for little pests to make their way into the system. Insects, mice, lizards and birds have been known to explore a bit too far and end up dying. Over time, you may start to smell the body through your vents. If you can locate the source of the smell, remove the carcass. If not, you’ll need professional help to clean the vents and get your air smelling clean again.

Mold or Mildew Smell

If you can smell musty air from the vents, you might have mold or algae in your AC unit. When moisture is not effectively removed from the unit, it can cause mold to take hold. Mold releases spores that can be carried throughout your home and causes illness. You can check your condensate line and drip pans as well as your air filters for collected water or mold growth. If mold has taken hold in your air ducts, you’ll need a professional to clean out the ducts and make sure the mold is completely eliminated.

Quality Beaumont Air Conditioner Repair

No matter what the smell, our team can bring that breath of fresh air you need. With years of experience and a commitment to our customers, you can’t go wrong with Efficient Systems when you need AC repairs. Contact our team today to start breathing deeply again!