WHAT TO DO ABOUT FUNNY SMELLS?
When was the last time that you smelled the air out of your air conditioning ducts? Probably never. It is a good idea to do this. The air should smell fresh and not have any other odors other than a slight metallic smell. When you smell foul odors instead of fresh air, you have a problem and need to investigate. Do not ignore the smell because it could signal a big problem. Below are a few of the more common odors.
Urine:
“Oh my, is Doc J really writing about urine?” Yes, because this is one of the odd smells that customer ask us about. Toddlers will pee in the vents. Not wanting to stop play and go to the bathroom is a common explanation. Being angry with an older sibling and extracting a bit of revenge also happens. Both dogs and cats will use floor vents as their indoor toilets. Quickly correct this behavior because once established it is a hard habit to break. Most pet odor sprays eliminate the smell.
Dirty socks smell:
Another foul odor that you may smell is “dirty gym socks”. When you first turn on your air conditioner at the beginning of the season you may detect a musty smell. This usually clears within a couple of hours. If the smell persists then it is usually from a dirty evaporator coil. Dander, hair, dust, and dirt can accumulate on the coil. On these substances bacteria and micro-organism can grow. These substances keep odors. Changing your filter regularly usually keeps the coil clean and odor free. First try changing the filter. If this does not help you may need to have your coils professionally cleaned to eliminate the odor.
Electrical Odor:
Electrical odors smell like charcoal, burnt meat or like car/motorcycle exhaust fumes. These smells usually indicate that the air conditioner has an electrical problem. Do not ignore this smell it could be profoundly serious. The odor could mean that a motor, capacitor, or wires are over-heating. On Jan 20th 2021 we smelled “motorcycle fumes” at our home. We went from room to room trying to localize the smell and found it strongest in the kitchen. All the appliances were okay and the gas was off to the stove. When you can find the odor source, remember to think about your furnace. Ours is located in the attic near the kitchen ceiling. The fan motor had burnt out.
Operating the air conditioner or furnace with the overheating parts can damage the motor. You can even have a fire. Do not use it your system until a HVAC professional checks the system.
If your air conditioner is producing foul odors contact us to schedule an inspection of the unit. Our team here at Doc J will diagnose and repair the problem so that you and your family be comfortable in your home.