5 Common Air Conditioner Smells

An air conditioner is essential in every household. Unfortunately, this equipment may start producing strange smells after some time and make your home uncomfortable. Additionally, these odors can harm your health. This article highlights five common HVAC smells and their potential causes.

1. Rotten Eggs Smell

Some people prefer to use natural gas to run their air conditioners. However, the gas may start to leak due to corrosion or loose valves, and this poses a safety risk to you and your family members.

Natural gas is odorless, and you may not easily tell when there is a leak within the system. For this reason, utility providers add the rotten egg smell to the gas, which makes it easy for you to know when your equipment develops issues.

If you notice the smell of rotten eggs in your home, turn off the gas source and open your windows to allow the gas to escape. Also, contact your local HVAC contractor to diagnose and solve the issue.

2. Musty Smell

When you turn on your air conditioner, condensation is likely to form within your system. If the system doesn't drain the moisture property, it will accumulate in the ducts and lead to mold growth. When mold builds up, it produces a musty smell.

Although the HVAC musty smell doesn't pose an immediate danger, the odor can decrease indoor air quality. Additionally, this smell can cause respiratory issues.

Fixing a musty smell is quite easy. All you need to do is call a technician to identify the areas with mold growth and clean them.

You can also prevent your HVAC system from producing a musty smell by scheduling regular drain pan and coil cleaning. Finally, consider changing your air filters regularly. According to most experts, homeowners need to change air filters every 30 days.

3. Burning Smell

During the warm months, dust usually settles on the heat exchanger. When you turn on your air conditioner, the system burns off the dust, and you may notice a faint burning smell in your house that may disappear after some time.

If the smell doesn't go away or becomes stronger, your system may have some issues. Common issues that may cause a burning smell include:

• Overheated motor
• Short circuit
• Frayed wiring
• Damaged electrical components

When you notice a burning smell, turn off your air conditioner to prevent further damage and call a technician to check the system.

4. Oil Smell

There are two main things that can cause an oil smell in your HVAC system. The first issue is an oil leak within your system. To solve the problem, check for any signs of oil leaks. If you notice oil, tighten the fittings in the oil line or fitting tank.

If there are no signs of leakage, the problem could be a faulty oil burner. One of the things that can damage the system's oil burner is poor fuel pump installation. Clogged fuel pumps can also damage the oil burner. Your trusted HVAC technician can help with any of these problems.

5. Decaying Garbage

Poor sanitation can invite pests like rats into your home. Rats may also enter your home in search of warmth and comfort. When your home becomes infested with pests like rats, they may prefer to stay in your system's ductwork where you cannot find them easily. If you don't get rid of these pests, they will reproduce and multiply.

When the rats excrete, their fecal matter will produce a garbage smell. The pests may also die and begin to smell when they rot. When you turn on your air conditioner, the smell spreads in your home. In the event of an infestation, you’ll need the help of an exterminator.

Although some HVAC smells are harmless, others indicate a serious issue. Once you notice any of the smells discussed above, call a professional to assess your system and carry out the necessary repairs. These experts have the necessary tools and expertise to solve the issue. If you need HVAC repair services, contact Comfort Technology Heating & Air Conditioning.