Air conditioners make a lot of things. They make cold air, for one, and make your home more comfortable. They make noise, although they shouldn’t make any noises that are sudden or alarming. But one thing they definitely should not make is any sort of bad smell. If your air conditioner is creating odors, you need prompt air conditioning repair in East Lansing, MI. Here’s what could be going on.
Chemical Smells
If your nose detects a chemical odor, something that also has a whiff of sweetness about it, what you’re smelling is refrigerant. This is the substance that flows through the AC coils, and it’s what actually soaks up the heat and carries it out of your home. If it’s leaking, there won’t be enough to get your home properly cool. You’ll be uncomfortable, your AC will run more and more, and the problem will only get worse.
Lucky for you, you noticed the smell right away. Getting prompt AC repair will mean avoiding serious complications such as damage to the compressor. When you get help from a professional, the leaky spot can be fixed. The system’s refrigerant can be topped up. And everything will be working again, exactly the way it should.
Sour Smells
As the warm air touches the outside of the cold refrigerant coils, moisture will condense from the air onto that chilly surface. The moisture will drip down into the condensate tray, which has a drain to remove the water from your home so it won’t do any damage. But sometimes, a tray that’s not draining very well becomes a home for unpleasant guests.
When bacteria grow in this moist area, it can make a very sour smell. If what you’re sniffing reminds you of vinegar, this could be the issue. A technician will clean it and repair the drain so it shouldn’t happen again.
Mildew Smells
If you can smell this tell-tale odor, there’s mold somewhere, even if you haven’t spotted it yet. Chances are, it’s in that very same condensate tray, and the same type of repairs are needed. Schedule an appointment straightaway because breathing mold spores is harmful.
Hot Smells
Anything that smells hot such as burning dust, melting plastic, or overheated metal is a serious warning sign of a fire hazard. Strangely, another smell that indicates an electrical fire is ammonia which may remind you of dead fish. Any of these odors mean that you should turn the AC off immediately. Don’t turn it on again until it’s been repaired, because electrical fires are too dangerous to risk.
Trust your nose, and trust your instincts. Don’t take risks with health and safety. When it doesn’t smell right, have it checked out by a professional. Contact us and we’ll get your AC working right—with no hazards to your health or home and no unpleasant smells.
Contact A-1 Mechanical Heating & Cooling for AC services in Lansing, MI. Comfort and Character You Can Depend On.