Why does my air conditioning produce a bad smell from the vents when it first turns on in my house?
Improperly running cooling systems in homes are definitely aggravating in San Antonio Texas. But when your air conditioner stinks, literally, it’s a telling sign you should take some action.
Just because your HVAC system is producing cold air doesn’t mean it doesn’t need attention. Any type of out-of-place odor coming from your AC vents is not normal. When weird smells are ignored, cooling issues will soon follow. In fact, they can even impact your family’s health. Consider that both of these consequences are far more costly than a simple repair or an AC tune up.
Explaining FOUL Smelling AC.
For the most part, smelly AC vents ae telling you something specific. We’ve seen it thousands of time in San Antonio…there are 7 common smells that you should know. Here’s a quick breakdown of where they come from and how to address the problem in order to avoid further issues with your AC unit.
1. Musty Smelling Air Coming From AC Vents
When your air conditioner stinks like feet or sweaty clothes (like a dirty sock) when it’s FIRST turned on, you probably have a dirty evaporator coil which is located within your inside AC air handler unit. The musty smell, also known as “dirty sock syndrome,” is the result of bacteria, mildew and mold growth and it happens due to lack of cleaning and maintenance.
Changing your air filters often is key to preventing this from happening. Or even better, taking professional maintenance seriously by having regular HVAC tune ups. Without good, regular maintenance, a musty smell will start coming out of your AC vents and it’s very noticeable.
How Can You Get Rid of a Musty Smell coming from your home’s AC vents?
If your HVAC system isn’t too old (just rotting from the inside out) an inspection, tune-up and full system and coil cleaning typically solves the problem. But if you want to eliminate the smell for good, schedule a routine service that ensures the evaporator coil is clean and the drainage lines are clean and unclogged. Believe it or not, heavy smokers have problems with their AC smelling more often than non smokers. Cigarette smoke has a lot of tar and oils that travel through the air and accumulate in the HVAC system, the fan, the vents, the ducts, etc. Not smoking inside your own home can help reduce maintenance costs with your Air Conditioner.
2. What If Your AC Stinks Like Sulfur or Rotten Eggs?
One of the more common issues we receive calls on is a rotten egg smell that seems to be coming from HVAC vents. While there could be something in the ductwork, this is usually caused by something else. Natural gas has a sulfuric additive that’s meant to be distinguished during a leak – because of the hazard involved.
So if you’re dealing with a smell like this, don’t assume your air conditioner stinks. The best thing you can do is turn off your gas supply, open up windows and quickly exit the premises while contacting the local gas company. In the meantime, avoid lighting a flame and try not to use anything electrical. Caliente Plumbing Heating & Air can help locate gas leaks within your home and repair them.
3. A Chemical-Smell coming from AC vents.
It’s never a good sign when you smell an unusually sweet aroma or your air conditioner stinks like paint thinner. The chemical-like scent is a common indicator that you’re dealing with a refrigerant leak. Like a coolant leak in your car, this type of issue can be fixed – but ignoring the smell can do a lot of damage.
Since your AC needs refrigerant gas to move heat through its copper coils, a leak can cause the system to crack wide open. So the best thing you can do is call Caliente Plumbing Heating & Air to inspect the issue and diagnose the problem accordingly. Once we get the leak repaired, the system will need to be recharged with the proper refrigerant. You definitely don’t want to ignore this problem!
If you have a leaking AC unit that was installed before 2010, you may want to consider a replacement. Most of these systems use freon or R-22 refrigerant, which is not manufactured anymore (ozone layer hazards). In other words, repairs won’t be cheap. One pound of can be over $500. So this makes it very practical to consider getting a more modern HVAC system. The repairs and maintenance will be a lot cheaper and your electric bill will be a lot lower. Makes a lot of sense in the long run.
Aside from chemical smells coming from your AC vents, there are other ways to notice a refrigerant leak. If your HVAC system struggles to keep your house cool, then a system freon leak could be the cause. Some of the more obvious signs are frost on the evaporator coil or refrigerant lines and bubbling or hissing noises during cooling.
4. What If Your Air Conditioner Stinks Like Vinegar?
Similar to a musty smell, the aroma of vinegar also points to blocked air flow, excess moisture and clogs. The first thing you’ll want to do is try to determine where the smell is coming from. If ductwork is the source then the cause could be as simple as a dirty filter.
If replacing your filters doesn’t get rid of the smell, then you might be dealing with mold in your air conditioner system. A blocked drain line or condensate pan can also create an acidic or vinegar-like smell throughout your home. Since excess condensation can have many causes, it’s normally best to contact an HVAC professional with Caliente Plumbing, Heating & Air for assistance.
5. Cat Urine Smell During Cooling – and you don’t have a cat. :-O
When your air conditioner stinks like cat urine or there’s an ammonia-like odor, mold in your AC system has probably reached a point where mycotoxins are present. While each of the previously mentioned smells can be problematic, mycotoxins are indeed proven to be hazardous to your health. So if you’re smelling this type of odor, a professional cleaning is usually needed to eliminate the problem.
6. AC Vents That Smell Like Burning Plastic.
If you’ve never smelled burning plastic before, some say it resembles the odor of fish. Others compare it to an overheating computer or melting wires. Either way, when your air conditioner vents stink like this, it typically means you’re dealing with some sort of mechanical failure or electrical issue.
A motor bearing within your AC system’s air handler that’s poorly lubricated, a broken fan belt or bad capacitor that’s overheating the AC motor are all common examples. Since many unattended electrical problems have the tendency to result in a fire, you should never ignore the smell of burning plastic or fish. In fact, turn the air conditioner off immediately and contact a professional at Caliente Plumbing Heating & Air.
7. Sewage, Rotting Odor or Trash-Like Smell Coming From HVAC Vents.
Since each of these smells are rather similar, we thought we’d group them together. For the most part, it can be awfully difficult to determine where the smell is coming from. Whether you have a backed up sewer line, dry P-traps under your sinks, or a dead animal carcass somewhere in your attic – the odor of each can make its way into your Home’s HVAC system.
Caliente Plumbing Heating & AC can send a plumber to test your P-traps and create a seal against sewage smells, but backed up lines or ruptured AC vents can create hazardous gases. A rotting animal can also create further problems or peril. The faster you’re able to identify this type of problem, the better.
Be Careful to Avoid Unnecessary Risks.
If you’re unable to figure out why your air conditioner stinks this way, consider calling a certified plumber or pest control specialist. Either will certainly be able to eradicate the problem in a timely manner. In the meantime, turn off the AC (if you can) and open up some windows.
Don’t Let a Smelly AC Linger.
At the end of the day, dealing with an awful-smelling air conditioner can be just as aggravating as an underperforming system. Neither provides the comfort you desire. Although the thought of repairs can be discouraging, a trusted relationship with a quality HVAC company allows you to manage these situations with ease.
At Caliente Plumbing Heating & Air, we believe in serving our customers the best way possible. We’ll find your HVAC problems and give you some options to fit any budget. No matter how bad your air conditioner vents stink, there’s always a way to resolve the problem with your best interest in mind. Call Caliente Plumbing Heating & Air and our pros will solve your HVAC problems quickly!