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4 Causes of the Odor Coming from Your Air Conditioner

August 10, 2021

After you get home from a hard day’s work in Gustine, CA, the last thing you want to deal with is a foul odor coming from your air conditioner. With that said, it’s not uncommon for air conditioners to emit strange odors if they’re having problems. Read on to learn about the following four smells that can come from your AC and how to eliminate them.

1. Exhaust Fumes

If your AC smells like an exhaust pipe, then you could have a refrigerant leak. These leaks can not only be dangerous to your health, but they can also shorten your HVAC system’s lifespan. A professional AC technician can fix most refrigerant leaks in less than a day, but it’s important to make an appointment as soon as you notice a potential problem.

2. Burnt Rubber or Heated Plastic

If it smells like something is burning inside of your air conditioner, then you might have a problem with one of the unit’s internal circuit boards. This smell could also be due to wiring issues. Either way, you should treat any electrical issues as a dangerous job that’s not safe for DIY methods.

3. Rotten Food

If your AC unit smells like something crawled in there and died, then that may be exactly what happened. Rats and mice often end up trapped inside air conditioners, and rodents don’t smell pleasant when they pass away. Whether you decide to call your local animal control service or remove the dead creature yourself, we recommend shutting off your AC until you get it out.

4. Gas

You need to treat it as an emergency if you start smelling gas coming from your AC. A gas leak will often smell like a skunk or have a similar odor. As soon as you notice this odor, shut off your gas line and have a professional out as fast as you can.

Has your AC started giving off any of the odors on the list above? If so, one of the professionals at CEN-CAL AIR Heating and Cooling can help you resolve the situation. To book a maintenance appointment at your earliest convenience, contact our office today.

Image provided by iStock

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