- Servicing Melbourne-Wide
- 40+ Years In The AC Industry
- 6 Year Installation Guaranteed*
- 100% Customer Satisfaction
Imagine you come home after a hot, tiring day and turn on your air conditioner only to be forced to turn it off because of a problem: your AC is producing a foul smell. You may think that it’ll go away in some time. Given that you’re here, the bad odour hasn’t gone away. We’re here to help you.
Air conditioner installation Melbourne is one of the most purchased appliances in the summer season due to the obvious reason –it is the best available solution to beat the scorching heat of summer. However, an AC can only work optimally if you properly maintain it. An improperly maintained air conditioner can cause bad smells and lead to various respiratory illnesses and diseases.
As there could be a number of reasons causing bad smells, it is crucial to identify the cause before fixing it.
5 Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Stinks
Bad odours from your AC could be due to one or several reasons. Whatever is causing a foul smell could be a warning sign before an expensive repair or a breakdown. Let’s look at 5 reasons why your AC smells bad:
REASON #1: A Musty Smell
An AC unit collects moisture in the air and collects it in a drip pan or removes it through the drain line. A leak in your air conditioner could become a breeding ground for mould and mildew and make the unit emit a musty or stale smell. Leaks happen due to the following reasons:
- Clogged air filters: Dirty air filters restrict the airflow and ice begins to form, which later melts and starts to drip. Besides the musty smell, water leakage could easily damage the compressor and lead to expensive repairs.
- Clogged Drain Line: Your AC unit could start dripping water if the drain line is clogged due to the buildup of debris and dust.
- Low Refrigerant: If your air conditioner is low on refrigerant, the coils could start to freeze over, and the ice will melt when the AC unit shuts off, causing water leakage.
Try changing/cleaning air filters. Experts recommend cleaning air filters every 1-2 months or sooner if you have pets in the house. You can read in detail about how often you should change your AC filter. If there is a presence of mould and mildew in the system, it would be best to call an HVAC technician.
Read More: Tips For Hiring The Best AC Technician and 6 Signs You Need To Change Your AC Filter.
REASON #2: Smells Like Burning
If your AC smells like gunpowder or burning, turn it off immediately. You should also check other gas appliances in the house just to be on the safe side. As your air conditioner has a lot of electrical components, a burning smell indicates malfunctioning of the circuit board, fan, or other electrical components.
Over time, electrical components wear out or the accumulation of dust and debris leads to overheating and short circuits. So if you notice any burning smell or, even worse, smoke, it is extremely important that you shut off your AC and call an air conditioning expert.
REASON #3: Smells Like Rotten Eggs
If you notice the air conditioner smells like rotten eggs, it could be due to gas leakage. It happens in gas ducted heating systems with add-on cooling and the leakage of gas or incompletely burnt gas could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Your AC could also emit a rotten egg-like smell due to dead rodents, birds, or insects in the ductwork.
Therefore, it is important to open all windows to ventilate the area and shut off the AC. Call an HVAC technician immediately.
REASON #4: Smells Like Exhaust Fumes
Why would an air conditioner produce an odour similar to a car’s exhaust fumes? Well, air conditioners also have motors that require lubrication, which could leak and produce smells due to an overheating AC.
If your air conditioner emits an exhaust fumes-like smell, open the windows and call a certified HVAC specialist to inspect the system.
REASON #5: Smells Like Chemical
If your AC is producing a chemical-like smell, it could be due to a refrigerant leak. As we know that a refrigerant plays a crucial role in air conditioning, its leakage is harmful to you and the environment. Refrigerant leakage can cause dizziness, fainting, seizures, and other health complications. Moreover, refrigerant leakage limits the performance of the system.
You have to understand that a licensed technician should only perform refrigerant refilling. So, it is important that you don’t try to do it yourself.
Prevention Is Better Than Bad Smells
An air conditioner emitting smells is a nuisance and poses health risks, especially if there is mould, mildew, and leakage of toxic gases.
If your air conditioner starts producing foul odours, you need to call in an HVAC professional to inspect the system thoroughly. Given that there could be a number of reasons behind foul odours, a certified professional can detect the issue and fix it before the problem escalates into something dangerous and expensive.
You can avoid all this with regular maintenance of your air conditioning system. Routine air conditioner service of your air conditioner ensures your safety and helps enhance the performance of the AC unit. You need to change the air filter once every 1-2 months and never delay scheduled maintenance of the system.
Have A Stinky Air Conditioner? Call ComfyHome
ComfyHome understands the importance of proper and regular service, cleaning, and maintenance of an air conditioner. Our air conditioning maintenance service helps ensure you avoid sudden AC repair or replacement costs.
With an experience of over four decades in the evolving air conditioning industry, we are here to help you whenever you need us. So if your air conditioner smells bad, give us a call, and our experts will inspect and fix your AC unit.
Contact Us to know why we are the best in Melbourne.