Air conditioners are meant to purify and provide fresh air. If you come home to your air conditioner smelling awkward, you should know something is not working the way it should be, and you should DIY AC repairs or consult HVAC repair services. There are several reasons why your air conditioner might smell and we are going to discuss how you can get rid of them.

Air Conditioner Smells Like A Car’s Exhaust

Air conditioners do not run on internal combustion engines. They utilize electricity and so, there is no reason whatsoever that your air conditioner should smell like a car’s exhaust. However, if your air conditioner does, the cause may be refrigerant leakage.

Such problems are rare in new air conditioners and are mostly caused due to inexperienced individuals damaging vital components such as the compressor and evaporator while deep cleaning or shifting the unit from one place to another.

A leaking refrigerant puts immense pressure on the compressor, which is responsible for producing hot or cool air. Therefore, with a low refrigerant level, the overall AC performance will decrease. Not only is the refrigerant harmful to the unit but also to the environment.

AC Smells Like Something Is On Fire

Air conditioners comprise several different parts that run on electricity. If you come across a smell that feels like something is burning or is on fire, you should check the fans, compressor, or power wires. If you find out that the smell is coming from the unit, you should immediately turn it off and then inspect it.

Another reason might be that dust can settle within your unit, if you haven’t used it in a long time. Therefore, once you turn on the unit again, the settled dust will burn and produce a bad smell. But the smell should go away after a while. But if it remains, it means there is something about to go wrong with the unit.

Do not try to determine the problem by yourself in this case as it could be dangerous. You should connect with an expert to deal with the issue.

Rotten Eggs Smell Coming From The Air Conditioner

Perhaps the worst smell you could think of coming from your air conditioner is rotten eggs. This smell is mostly due to rodents or critters ending up inside the unit and being killed once the air conditioner runs as they are not able to get out in time.

As their bodies decompose, it gives off an extremely unpleasant smell that is hard to withstand. Therefore, you will need to turn off the air conditioner and get it cleaned. Furthermore, if you have a central air conditioning system, lizards and other critters can end up inside your air vents and are trapped.

That said, not only will you need to remove them but also get the air ducts cleaned along with the AC unit to remove the smell.

Moldy Or Musty AC Smell

Air conditioners need maintenance and if you do not look after them, do not be surprised if water accumulates in the drain pan or drip lines. This can cause mildew or fungus to grow. It could also be leakage and you will most probably be able to spot it.

However, if there is no leak, you will need to check the drain pan and pipes. In addition to that, a moldy or musty smell could also be due to dirty air filters. If you live in a humid region, moisture can settle on the filters and will produce such a smell when the air conditioner is turned on after a long time.

This means that you will either need to clean the air filters or replace them. This is something you can do on your own.

Final Word

In the end, air conditioners do not produce any smell while running. However, if you do come across some, consult an expert so that the problem is fixed before it can get out of hand and make your life miserable. And always opt for a certified air conditioning repair service Fairfax. Inexperienced individuals and shoddy jobs can end up permanently damaging your unit. You’ll end up spending more money on replacements of critical AC components.