Some Foul Smells Indicating It Is Time To Call An AC Repair Company | Southlake, TX
Your home’s AC system should not have a distinctive lingering smell during normal operation. Therefore, if you pick up an odor that is not going away, especially during its entire running, it is best to call an AC repair company to tackle the issue before it worsens. A foul odor in your air conditioning system can be due to many factors, such as a clog, especially in the condensate drain line, wet filters, or a build-up of mold or fungus in the unit.
Regardless, it is advised that you enlist a professional AC repair technician for a further inspection. Below are some of the smells that most Southlake, TX homeowners are likely to experience, the reasons for their presence, and some solutions to eradicate them;
Musty Smell
A dingy and stale smell is among the most prevalent foul smells an air conditioner can produce. Does your air conditioner throw a musty smell? That is most likely because of an accumulation of water in the drain lines or drain pan. Water accumulation in the ducts can also happen if you use a ducted system. Either of these causes mildew or fungi growth, hence the moldy or musty smell.
If water leaks from the air conditioner, you will notice visible signs on the indoor ductless unit. The other reason for the moldy, musty, and moldy smell is dirty filters. Based on its work, a filter is prone to get clogged by dirt. Regardless, you should have an AC repair company representative come over for a further inspection.
Air Conditioner Smells Like Car Exhaust
The operation of your air conditioning system does not have any burning parts. Therefore, it should not present any combustion smell. However, its operation depends on fluids that can smell like exhaust fumes when heated. Such a smell from your AC unit most likely indicates leaking refrigerant on the refrigerant line. Since the effective operation of an AC unit is highly dependent on both the quantity and quality of the refrigerant, a leak can impact its performance.
For example, Freon is mainly used in refrigerants. This component absorbs heat from your air supply and then releases the heat outside. However, on the flip side, if exposed, freon is overly dangerous to the environment. Its presence in the environment is marked by a sweet chloroform-like smell or a Swedish car coolant smell. Therefore, if you notice a chemical-like sweet smell, you should call an AC repair company in Southlake, TX, immediately. Due to its dangerous nature, it is advisable to open the windows and ensure the ventilation system is operational immediately after you notice this smell.
AC Smells Like Something Is On Fire
Your AC system comprises electrical components such as wiring circuit boards, fans, and compressors. Therefore, if you experience a burning plastic or gunpowder-like smell emanating from your air conditioning system, it might be that one of these electrical components is burning. When this happens, it is advisable to immediately turn off your air conditioning unit and contact an AC repair company.
The smell, in most cases, temporarily lingers for about 20 to 30 minutes and then disappears; hence it is nothing to be concerned about. However, if the smell remains for a longer time, it intensifies to a pungent smell, or the AC starts to malfunction, turn off the system and contact the AC repair service provider.
Rotten Eggs Smell
Are you smelling rotten eggs in your house, yet there are no eggs around? There is a big likelihood that the smell originates from your air conditioning unit. There are many possibilities why your AC unit might be oozing this smell. This distinct smell might result from dead rats or rodents stuck in the AC unit. Also, as birds and insects take shelter and refuge in the ductwork of your AC unit, they might get trapped in the equipment resulting in the presence of dead or dying animals.
However, the smell from decomposing rats or animals is so characteristically distinct that you cannot mistake it for something else. On the other hand, if you have a ductless system, crawlers such as lizards can sometimes find their way into your indoor unit, causing an unpleasant experience. However, if you find yourself in such a scenario, you can always call an AC repair company to help eliminate the pests and vermin from the air ducts and outdoor unit.
The technician will locate the duct causing the odor, remove the cover of the ductwork and safely remove the animal without damaging the ductwork. In addition, if the animal is not in sight, an AC repair company is well equipped to locate the animal and clean the duct to leave your Southlake, TX home odor free.
Apart from dead animals, a rotten smell in your home should be a cause for alarm since it is one of the most dangerous smells to encounter. If you smell rotten eggs, it could signify the presence of natural gas in your breathing air. This could mean that a gas pipe is malfunctioning or there is a loose nozzle in the vicinity. Although in its natural form, natural gas is odorless, most utility-providing companies incorporate a sulfur-like smell or a rotten egg smell to heighten its recognition as part of their safety measure.
Therefore, if you notice these two smells, open your windows, and leave your house immediately. When at a safe distance, call the gas company for help. After the gas company has cleared your home as safe, it is also helpful to call your AC repair company to review your system.
Reputable AC Repair Company
When your air conditioner is in distress or malfunctioning, it shows different signs. One of those signs is an uncharacteristic smell. Have you noticed either of the smells above in your air conditioning unit? Contact us at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth, your licensed, trusted, and reliable AC repair company.