Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell?

If you smell something bad when your air conditioner turns on, that’s an indication there’s something wrong with it. What you smell can give you a hint of what the problem is. You shouldn’t ignore this issue, as it can get worse or be a health hazard.

Mold and Mildew

If you smell mold when your AC unit comes on, it’s likely that fungus is growing in it. This occurs because air conditioners remove humidity from your house. If the moisture doesn’t drain as it should, the result can be a fungus colony. A trained HVAC technician can remove the fungus and fix the drainage problem.

Aircon Heating & Cooling Inc. in Las Cruces, NM, has experienced technicians. Our team is fast and friendly.

Car Exhaust

While air conditioners don’t use gas, they have some fluids that smell like car exhaust fumes when they’re heated. It’s likely your AC system has a refrigerant leak. This problem reduces the efficiency of your system and can be a health hazard, so have it repaired as soon as possible.

Fire Odor

If you smell burning gunpowder or plastic, there’s a problem with one of your AC system’s electrical components. You should immediately turn off your unit at the breaker box and contact an HVAC company.

Rotten Eggs

A rotten eggs smell means a rodent, a bird, or some other small animal is in your air conditioning system. They’ll create unpleasant smells after dying. If you can’t take care of the problem yourself, an HVAC technician can handle this task for you.

Cigarette Smoke

If someone smokes in your home, the cigarette smoke will collect on the evaporator coil and air filter. You should change the filter and get your HVAC system professionally cleaned.

At Aircon Heating & Cooling Inc. we repair, install, and tune-up air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, and more in Las Cruces, NM. We also have indoor air quality solutions, evaporator coils, and fan coils. Call us today to schedule an appointment or to ask questions about your air conditioner.