Your AC can’t speak when in trouble, but it has its way of complaining. If your air conditioner had a stomach, a foul smell would be its version of an upset tummy. A strange odor drifting through your room when you turn on the AC is more than just a nuisance; it’s a cry for help.
Whether it’s a musty smell, a burning odor, or something oddly like the smell of a dead rat, each scent has a story to tell. It’s a warning signal. And if you want to avoid huge expenses on repairs, you better pay attention.
How do you identify whether your AC is slowly shutting down or merely in need of quick maintenance? The key is figuring out what your AC is trying to communicate. Let’s learn a little more about what each funny AC smell indicates, shall we?
1. Stale Water or Stinky Feet
Your AC has two vital tasks: cool the room and absorb excess water vapors from the atmosphere to dehumidify. When you turn on the AC, moisture from the room is liquified by the condensing coil, collected as water in a condensate pan, and flushed out through a drain line.
In high-humidity areas like Singapore, the evaporating coil collects moisture over time, trapping water in the system. A clogged drain line also results in the same problem. This stagnant water can start to smell like wet, dirty socks. Cleaning your AC or scheduling maintenance can prevent water accumulation and keep the airflow from smelling.
2. Musty Smell
Uncleaned moisture inside the system promotes fungal growth, mold, and mildew. This triggers a musty or acidic smell, which is a clear indication of decay and dampness. Moreover, molding can cause severe health problems and must be taken care of immediately.
An Aircon repair technician can help clean out the evaporating coil, AC interiors, and drainage pipe to remove mold. Scheduling regular cleaning can help avoid the problem altogether.
3. Burning Smell
If there’s a burning smell coming from your AC, immediately turn it off and call a technician. It’s an electrical fire hazard possibly caused by an overheating motor, short circuit, faulty wiring, an overheated fan, or other electrical issues. The smell is similar to that of burning plastic or gunpowder. In any case, please don’t ignore this or turn it into a DIY project.
4. Dead rodent smell
If it smells like a dead rodent, there probably is one. Rats, lizards, and birds often shelter in AC units to avoid harsh winters. While most make it out alive, some are not so lucky and end up dying. When this happens, their carcass can decompose and instigate a trashy smell that travels through your room along with your AC’s cooling breeze. Scheduling an AC maintenance service to clear out the carcass can solve this problem.
5. Exhaust Fumes, Sulfur, or Sweet Smell
When a car’s engine has been running and has an exhaust leak, it can lead to the fumes entering the cabin. But an AC does not have a combustion engine, so why does it smell like exhaust fumes or sulfur when you turn it on?
Your AC has fluids called refrigerants. Refrigerant fluid or AC gas can trigger a sweet-smelling chemical odor or a rotten egg smell when exposed to a warm environment. The result is reduced cooling performance, ice buildups, strange sounds, and a high electricity bill. Avoiding a refrigerant leak repair can add up to more expenses in the long run.
6. Other smells
Accumulated dust on AC filters can bring a dusty smell, which can be avoided with regular cleaning or replacement.
If you smoke cigarettes indoors, nicotine can enter your AC. Eventually, when you turn the AC on, it thrusts out nicotine particles with a suffocating odor into the air, often causing headaches. The best way to treat the problems is to smoke outdoors and regularly clean your AC.
AC Maintenance Services
Apart from foul smells, there are other indicators of an AC problem like strange noises, poor cooling, high electricity bills, and most importantly, a sudden surge in respiratory problems and allergies. If your AC smells bad when you turn it on, book AC services at Fixlaa now.
Our maintenance services include cleaning, checking the refrigerant level, inspecting various components, verifying thermostat functionality, lubricating parts, and clearing the drain lines.
Remember, irrespective of your AC brand and type, it’s quite impossible to avoid minor inconveniences. Fortunately, major repairs can be prevented by scheduling regular air conditioning maintenance services. Don’t let a pea-sized problem turn into a mountain before you finally come to your senses.
To learn how to DIY quick filter cleanups and other easy repairs, follow our blog here.
