What Causes An Air Conditioner To Smell Bad?

Consider walking into your home and smelling a foul odor. Your air conditioner is on, and the smell has spread across your home. It could be more intense in one room than in others. You look around your house, trying to find the source, but notice it’s everywhere. That’s when you realize it could be your air conditioner.

If your air conditioner smells bad, it could be due to several issues you should address as quickly as possible. Give the experts at Gator Air Conditioning a call for AC maintenance in Sarasota, FL. Ignoring this issue can do more harm than good and cost you significant expenses.

Why does your AC Smell Bad?

Below are some common air conditioner smells and the reason behind them.

Rotten Eggs

If you notice a foul rotten egg-like smell coming out from your air conditioner, it indicates a potential gas leak. When you sense such smells, leave the house and call us right away! While most air conditioners do not operate on gas, some do, and a gas leak is a very serious matter.

A Skunk Smell

This is also an indication of a gas leak. In this case, you’ll smell a skunk-like odor coming from your AC unit. Again, if you sense such smells, leave the house and call us right away!

Burning Smell

If you smell something like burning plastic or wires, it means that your air conditioner is overheating. This could be due to a clogged filter or an issue with the electrical components. If you notice this smell, shut off your AC unit and call us for assistance.
If there are no visible signs of a fire, open the HVAC cabinet or go down to where your interior unit remains located and take a sniff. If you smell combusting or gunpowder coming from the device, it’s likely that the circuit board or fan engine has shorted out or is about to short out.

Musty Smell

If you notice a musty smell coming out of your AC, it could be a sign of mold or mildew growth inside the unit. This usually happens when the unit is not used for a long time, or if there’s high humidity in the environment. If you notice this smell, call us for AC cleaning and maintenance services.

At Gator Air Conditioning, our technicians are specialized in fixing any cooling or heating issue. Furthermore, we offer affordable rates for all services including repairs, maintenance, and AC installation in Sarasota. To know more about our expert services or hire our heating and cooling technicians, call us at 941-749-6000, and we would be delighted to assist you.