Updated at: 14-10-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

Anyone who’s ever turned on the A/C in a hot, humid climate knows what I’m talking about. Is it just the accumulation of dust? What about a rotten egg odor? What if you could smell burning? Do any of these odors emanating from an air conditioner pose a health risk? Do you think the air conditioner needs to be repaired or replaced? If your air conditioner smells foul, give us a call and we’ll take care of it.

Where do the smells come from?

Let’s start with the obvious: the smell. A gas leak may have an odor similar to that of a rotting egg. There may be a gas leak, so you should open the windows, shut off the gas supply and escape the house. Turn it back on yourself, or arrange for the gas company to do so. You don’t want to take a chance on it on your own.

Air Conditioner Smells: 6 Reasons Why Your AC Smells Awful & Solutions

A separate problem arises if the scent isn’t like that of rotten eggs.

Dirt and dust will accumulate in your air conditioner, just like they will in any other part of your home that isn’t properly cleaned and cared for. To make things even worse, cleaning the parts of your air conditioner is commonly disregarded.

One of the most prevalent causes of offensive scents in air conditioners is the accumulation of mildew, dirt, and other contaminants. Coils, drain pain, air ducts, and even your filter can be the source of this problem. Ongoing maintenance, on the other hand, can assist to limit this accumulation and the likelihood that a foul smell will spread throughout your home.

Mold can thrive in warmer settings because of the combination of heat and moisture. Mold and mildew can not only make your property smell bad, but they can also have a severe impact on the air quality.

Alternatively, a little organism may have made its way into your ducts and died. Our crew or a pest control company can come and remove the critter if you switch off your air conditioner.

How do I know if the smell is coming from my A/C?

When the A/C is running, you’ll notice an unusual odor that gets worse as you move closer to the vents. Of course, this means the A/C is to blame. But what if you detect a familiar odor, such as that of a wet diaper or cigarette smoke, but are unable to locate its source? In that instance, your air conditioner may be to blame. An A/C unit might draw smells from outside sources, like the diaper pail in the nursery above your head, into your basement, for example, even if you’re not in the nursery. For the same reason, if you, a family member, a friend, or a previous tenant smoked in the property, the odor of cigarettes may penetrate the entire house every time the evaporator is turned on.

Why does my air conditioner stink?

There are several potential reasons why your air conditioner stinks. In addition to the examples above, here are some of the main culprits:

Smell: Musty/Dirty Socks

If your air conditioner smells, there are several possible causes. Here are a few more common offenders, in addition to those already mentioned:

Smell: Mold/Mildew

If your air conditioner smells, there are numerous causes for this. Other common offenders include those listed below, as well:

Smell: Rotten Egg

Natural gas leak near the ductwork, pest problem or dead animal in the ducts or attic.

Open the windows and get out of the house immediately if you detect a gas leak in your home. Then call the gas company. It’s a potentially deadly situation.

Smell: Burning

Possible causes include a malfunctioning fan or compressor.

Smell: Sewage

A clogged sewage line or a burst vent pipe near the ducting could be the source of the problem.

Smell: Gun Powder

Circuit board short or fan motor failure could be the cause of the problem.

Smell: Exhaust

Engine fluid leaks are one possibility.

Why Are Strange Smells An Issue?

Smells such as filthy socks, stinky eggs, and mildew are all signs that your air conditioning equipment needs to be repaired.

Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell So Bad?

During the beginning of the cooling or heating season, your HVAC system may emit a burning smell when dust that has settled in the unit burns off. It’s possible that your vents are filled with rotting eggs, which could indicate a gas leak or the presence of a dead animal. Mold can be detected by a musty or filthy sock-like odor.

The presence of a musty stench in your air conditioning system indicates that there may be impurities in the system. Bacteria thrive in a dark, moist environment like your digestive system.

This signifies that your air conditioner is dispersing potentially harmful mold spores throughout your house. If you or a member of your family suffers from allergies, these spores can pose a serious threat to your health.

Never ignore unusual odors coming from your HVAC system if you have one. A professional air conditioning specialist should be called to investigate your odor problems.

Five Reasons Why Your AC Smells Musty

You can help your air conditioner repairman locate the problem by conducting some troubleshooting while he or she is on the way. As a result, your HVAC unit will be serviced faster and accurately the first time, restoring your home’s fresh scent.

If you notice a musty smell coming from your air conditioner, here are five possible causes and where to hunt for solutions.

1. The Drain Pan is Full

Water droplets are deposited in the drip pan or drain pan because your AC unit eliminates humid air from your home. Over time, this portion of your heating and air conditioning system will begin to fail due to normal wear and tear.

Mold will grow in an inefficient drip pan, resulting in the musty odor in our house when the unit is running. To get rid of the smell, have your local HVAC specialist install a new unit.

To find the drip pan, look right beneath the evaporator coils of your system.

2. Frozen Evaporator Coils

Air conditioners are designed to chill and dehumidify warm interior air before returning it through return vents. A clean air filter is necessary for this process to work properly.

Water droplets from humid interior air build up on the evaporator coils when dirt and debris obstructs airflow. Cooling refrigerant will cause these water droplets to freeze. To restore optimal airflow, your HVAC expert will need to defrost the condenser coil and replace the filters.

Inside or near the air handler, where the blower fan resides, are the evaporator coils.

3. Excess Moisture In Ducts Or Vents

High humidity levels or a drainage leak are the most common causes of excess moisture in air ducts and vents. You may have mold and mildew in your ductwork if you notice a musty odor as soon as you switch on the air conditioner.

As soon as possible, call a skilled HVAC expert to inspect your home for mold. To permanently eradicate the musty odors from your ducts and vents, you’ll need to undertake duct cleaning and repairs.

With the help of the vents, you can see where your ducts are located. It is possible that some of the ducting is hidden away in the ceiling or in the crawlspace, which means that a specialist must be called in to check for mold.

4. Blocked Condensate Line

Next to the condenser, you’ll find a little PVC pipe that’s used for the unit’s condensate. Your air conditioner’s condenser unit is positioned outside your house. Water from the drip pan should be drained into your landscape or storm drain using this piece of equipment.

Mold, mildew, and sludge buildup is common in this area because of its small size. Clogs form, and your home begins to smell musty as a result.

The condensate drain line is a short pipe that travels from the inside of your home to the outside of your unit, where it drains.

Why Is a Burning Smell Coming from My Air Conditioner? |

5. Incorrect AC Size For Home

AC systems must be the right size for your home in order to function correctly. This results in a lack of dehumidification and an increase in the amount of surplus moisture in the air. If it’s too little, it’ll continuously be on and off, which will cause it to fail sooner.

To make sure that your air conditioning unit is the right size, ask your HVAC professional to check it out. Heating and air conditioning unit sizing is more than just a matter of square space. Your technician will also take into account the number of occupants, the type of insulation in your home, and your specific requirements in light of the local climate.

What to Look For: Have your system inspected by a service technician.

How do I get rid of air conditioner smells?

Because most air conditioner odors are caused by an air filter that is unclean or clogged, all you need to do is clean or replace the filter. Maintaining a clean condensate pipe may also be beneficial. There are a number of reasons why you might be experiencing the smell of urine in your home, but the most common is that you’ve got a diaper someplace in your house. Cleaning your condensate line, replacing the filter, and eliminating any other obvious sources of odor won’t get rid of the terrible smell, so you’ll have to bring in the pros. When there are any leaks or electrical/mechanical problems with your device, this is extremely important.

Aside from routine maintenance, the best method to safeguard your house and your wallet from unexpected A/C problems is to include its system components in your home warranty. As a result, you won’t have to worry about the expense of covered repairs.

What can I do?

Make sure your filter is up to snuff. Odors coming from an air conditioner are frequently caused by this. Replace your old air filter with a brand new one if it’s been a while since you did so. Filter replacement is normally recommended every few months. If you have dogs or a family member who suffers from allergies or asthma, you’ll need to replace it more frequently than someone who doesn’t.

Even though you’ve changed the filter, you should probably seek the assistance of a professional if that doesn’t help. In particular, if you haven’t had an air conditioning checkup in a while. To determine if a complete cleaning is necessary, technicians can conduct a thorough examination of the issue. Your air ducts may also need to be cleaned. You may benefit from a professional duct cleaning if your indoor air quality has declined.

At Point Heating & Cooling, we can help you figure out what’s causing the odors in your house so that you can go on with finding a solution. Avoid having to deal with unpleasant aromas in your air-conditioned indoor environment during the hotter summer months. You can book an appointment online or give us a ring at 715-504-0533 to get in touch with us.

Trust R & T Services To Solve Your Air Conditioning Odor Issues

If you notice a strange odor coming from your cooling system, you should contact a professional as soon as possible to avoid introducing harmful toxins into your home’s air.

To keep your home free of musty odors, remember to have your air conditioner serviced on a regular basis.

A team of air conditioning experts from R&T Services has worked in Billings for more than 30 years. We take great satisfaction in our considerable professional knowledge and expertise.