Help! My AC System Makes My House Smell Bad!

Under ordinary circumstances, your air conditioner should operate without odors. Therefore, if unpleasant smells are emerging from your system and wafting through your Taylorville, IL, home, you can be sure that something is wrong. Here are some possible reasons your AC system might smell bad:

Ether Odor

Most of the odors that might come from your AC system have multiple possible causes. The sweet smell of ether, however, is the grand exception to this rule. If you notice this smell coming from your air conditioner, you can be certain that the system is leaking refrigerant.

The refrigerant enables your AC system to produce cool air. As refrigerant circulates through the system, it absorbs heat from the surrounding air and releases it to the outside.

Refrigerant is very toxic. Therefore, if you suspect there’s a leak, we advise you to turn off your system, evacuate your home and call for professional help.

Dirty Socks Odor

Generally speaking, if bacteria and other microorganisms congregate on your system’s coils, they may create a musty odor that resembles dirty socks. Service technicians will need to clean the coils as part of maintenance services.

Burning Odor

Burning smells are nearly always reliable signs of danger. If such odors are coming from your AC system, you may have frayed wires. This can produce stray sparks and possibly ignite a fire.

Alternatively, there may be a great deal of dust or other debris in the system’s interior. If the compressor or fan motors malfunction and overheat, they may interact with debris, creating a burning smell. HVAC service technicians will need to fix the broken parts and remove all detritus from your AC system’s interior.

If you smell anything strange coming from your AC system, don’t ignore it. Call Yard Heating & Cooling today to sign up for the best AC repair services anywhere around Taylorville, IL.

Image provided by iStock