If the air in your home smells like dirty feet, this may be … Instead, the problem is probably mold. As an air conditioner or one of its components becomes clogged with dirt and other particles, it can no longer filter water out of the air well, and the excess collects in the system. Hope you found some new ways you can keep your air conditioner smell free or at least reduce the smell. (We had a stinking hot day 3 days ago and the system was on all day, but we've done that before without any issues). If I turn on the circulate air, the smell stops. These can be more toxic than some strains of mold, so it’s important to have your system checked out immediately. i have kept it clean and would like some tips on how to keep it from reeking like a public men's room. One wise step to take before calling a technician, however, is to search for any sneaky cats hanging around, or near, the vents for your unit. Mold on its own won’t produce this odor; it’s the mycotoxins, which can actually … Rather, there could be a leak somewhere else, and the gas is seeping into the system and circulating. This is a real danger, so don’t fool around. Here’s a breakdown of the range of smells you may come across and the kind of problems they may be pointing to in your system. I desperately need help or at least to know where to turn next for help. Also, now’s a good time to mention that there’s an easy way to avoid this happening next year: Schedule a tune-up or sign up for our maintenance plan. We are on good terms with the tenants up there, but they have guests over pretty often. There is a musty cat urine smell coming out of my A/C vents and I am at the end of my rope. Pests can sneak in through different pipes, and if they’ve taken a wrong turn into an HVAC system or got stuck in the vents, you might need to remove them from the ductwork. Split system - musty smell. If your air conditioner is emitting a foul smell while running, it’s important that you get it identified and removed right away. It’s usually residue from whatever burned or got damaged. The plastic used in these components contains a chemical that emits a fish or urine-like smell when it gets extremely hot or burns. Characterizations of these odors run the gamut from rotten eggs, to cat pee, smelly feet and beyond. A dead animal is frequently the culprit when you detect that unmistakable stench of spoiled eggs coming from the air vents of your AC system. Have your ducts examined by apest control company for animal remains and then professionally cleaned. You can head out to the beach, and when you come back, the problem will be gone. The moisture (and importantly, all the smells in your moist air, as alluded to above) condense on the cold coil. These four distinct, but similar, odors are often indicators of the same problem. Along with cooling, one of the functions of an air conditioner is to remove excess moisture. So, turn off the system and call a professional. Or, there’s a leak, and the mold is cultivating somewhere else. You will likely detect this gas-like smell coming from the supply vents, but it shouldn’t build up and tends to dissipate as you run the unit. We’ve also had calls where people say they smell a skunk when they turn on the AC. So, if there’s a problem, it’s been left for a while and gotten worse. Or, there’s a gas smell coming from the air conditioner. So, be sure and call a technician, or plumber, to check out your system immediately. Skunks don’t usually choose to die in or around ductwork, so a decomposing critter is probably not the culprit here. Other causes might be that some plastic debris has gotten inside the unit and is melting on the coils, or that a dirty air filter has caused your unit to overheat. Left unchecked, this could become a dangerous problem. I thought it was water in the bottom of the unit not getting out, so I drilled a small hole in the back so the water will drain, and sprayed Lysol inside of it, washed the filtter and it still smells. And, you’ll be sure your air conditioner is in great shape and running efficiently. A common call is that the AC has a funny smell when they turn it on. One of the most common smells reported by customers is a moldy odor. The methyl mercaptan produced by gas, closely resembles the smell of skunk spray and may be entering your house through the duct system. This odor could very well be the result of a sewer line that has backed up or ruptured near the duct system for your AC. Miller's Heating & Air July 2, 2018 Hi Mick, An air conditioner smells like mildew or mold is probably the most common symptom of central HVAC systems. You can air out the home if you want. People with asthma or other respiratory issues may start having allergy-like symptoms. If there’s an odor coming from your A/C that smells like rotten garbage or urine, you could have a dead animal in your air ducts. Some people describe the scent as more like ammonia. What happens is this: When you run the unit in cooling mode, the coils get very cold. But, it has nothing to do with sweat or working out. It’s tough to do a visual inspection for mold, as we mentioned. We’ll get to the bottom of it quickly, and you can go back to enjoying your summer. Call Broadley’s for your air conditioner repair in Marmora, Avalon, Stone Harbor, Ocean City, or Upper Township, NJ. It’s known as “Dirty Sock Syndrome” in the HVAC community. Open your windows, get out of your house, and call the gas company. But, you should turn your system off right away. Electrical smells can indicate that a part inside your unit has malfunctioned, causing the motor to overheat and the insulation on the wires to melt. And, it can be dangerous. When the moisture doesn’t drain properly, it … This means that when bacteria in air conditioning units pump out ammonium as they break down human skin, they produce a urine-like smell. If you smell gas or skunk, open your windows, go outside and give us a call right away. Now, some of these smells can indicate a big problem or a safety hazard. Would anyone pls have diagrams on what to do for this model? An evaporator, compressor, condenser, and expansion valve manage refrigerant and move the air in two directions: indoors and outside. If you start smelling a moldy odor, your air conditioner has most likely started growing fungus. These contaminants grow in dark, damp areas. I've also noticed if I have it set for 23 degrees it smells a lot more than if I have it set for 22. Also known as bacterial growth, mold and mildew will circulate through your indoor air once it has settled in your air conditioner. When you finally kick on your air conditioner for the first time, and revel in the fact that summer is here, the last thing you want to think about is air conditioner maintenance. Mold and mildew growth is the most common cause of bad smells in your AC system. Air conditioning odors usually come from mold and mildew that accumulate from condensation on the refrigerator coils, in a clogged drain pan, or leak in the system. This odor could very well be the result of a sewer line that has backed up or ruptured near the duct system for your AC. Question: How can I get at the drain pipe to run a wire down it? Sewage. Central air conditioners share the ducts of the home’s heating system, and the compressor and condenser are in a housing located out of doors. We have a name for a stale, musty, and sometimes cheesy smell coming from an air conditioner or other HVAC appliance: Dirty Sock Syndrome. Instead, you’re smelling the mycotoxins, or byproducts, it creates. The filter’s job is to catch these nasties before they enter the system – if you leave the build-up for too long, it can result in a smell like the odour of bad feet. © 2020 Broadleys Energy Solutions Terms of Service | Sitemap, An animal died in or near your HVAC system. Probably the most common culprit is a clogged filter. Give us a call, and we’ll be able to trace the problem and let you know if it’s repairable or if you need to consider a replacement. It’s not exactly the result you anticipated, right? Common odors from air conditioners include: Musty, dusty, thick smells. Now, this one’s a little gross. This reminds me of going to the nursing home and seeing my Dad, and this is a smell that I do not like. If your system kicks on and it suddenly smells like an old attic or basement, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with exactly what you’re smelling—dust and debris! When the air conditioning is running, there is a lot of condensation within the unit. Most of them are easily diagnosed by an HVAC professional and may only require a thorough cleaning to fix. Although today’s air conditioners are fancier and more efficient, they are still made up of the same basic components developed by the engineer, Willis Carrier, in 1902. Either way, it’s a good idea to call us right away if your AC smells bad. Usually, the solution here – apart from getting rid of the remains, of course – is to clean out your ductwork. Sometimes they may die there and begin decomposing, resulting in an acrid odor. A circuit board could be fried, or a motor’s broken, for instance. If you smell urine coming from your air conditioner, it’s probably not because someone relieved themselves where they shouldn’t have. Archive View Return to standard view. However, some smells, like rotten eggs or gas are more serious. There is a roof deck immediately above this window. The hot air discharges from the back of the unit, while the condenser coils and a fan cool and re-circulate indoor air. These aromas usually stem from an electrical problem. Hi, I have a 2yo Fujitsu Split System and the indoor unit (ASTA18LCC) started delivering fishy smelling air yesterday!!! Even if you manage to mask the smell or get rid of it temporarily, you’re not getting to the root of the problem. Been fine till now. There’s more than one possible cause for your air conditioner smelling funny the first time you turn it on for the season. The air blowing through my AC vents smells like pee when I first turn on the AC. from December 2016; ... My daikin split system keeps getting mildewy and emitting a musty smell. Electrical Odors . When something malfunctions in the AC system, our first instinct is to try and fix the problem ourselves. It’s so named because the smell resembles clothes that have been in a sweaty gym bag for way too long. Instead, the problem is probably mold. 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