Skip to main content
5 Common A/C Smells and What They Mean

5 Common A/C Smells and What They Mean

Having an air conditioning system that works is a necessity to ensure. Everyone's comfort during the hot summer months is important to keeping cool. Unfortunately, sometimes your HVAC system can end up creating pestering smells. Some of these smells can be a small problem. Others can show that you'll need to call an HVAC professional ASAP.

Dirty Socks Smell

If your home smells like dirty socks, then it's a sign that your evaporator coils need a cleaning. Over time, the evaporator coils in your HVAC system can develop microbial growth. This can make your whole home smell like it's laundry day. When you smell this odor, it's time to call in an HVAC professional to clean your evaporator coils. Continuing to run your HVAC system until an HVAC expert arrives won't harm your system. It may offend your nose, though.

Exhaust Fumes Smell

When you smell exhaust fumes in your home, it can be a sign that there is a fluid leak in your air conditioning. In most cases, the fluid is leaking on a warm part of your air conditioning system. This causes the fluid to steam. In this type of situation, it's best to contact an HVAC professional to check your HVAC system. It's not advisable to run your air conditioning until an HVAC professional takes a look at it.

Gunpowder Smell

A pungent smell that your HVAC system may produce is gun powder. Some people refer to this smell as fire or something burning. If you notice this smell in your home, you should turn off your HVAC air conditioning system. It's likely that there is a problem with an overheated part or frayed wiring in your HVAC system. Check the HVAC system for any fire and call the fire department if you find one. An HVAC professional should check your system before turning it back on.

Trash Smell

No one likes to smell trash in their home. If you do, and it's not because the trash is full, it could be your HVAC system. You'll likely notice this smell when you first turn on your air conditioning system. In most cases, this is likely a dead or trapped animal within your HVAC system. It's not uncommon for animals to seek shelter in your HVAC system over the winter months. In this situation, it's best to call in an HVAC professional. They will test your entire HVAC system before turning the air conditioning back on.

Mold or Mildew Smell

The last smell in our HVAC smells list is that of mold or mildew. These happen when you're running your air conditioning system. Due to the nature of these systems, it's not uncommon for mold to grow in your HVAC system. If you smell mold or mildew, shut your air conditioning off and contact an HVAC professional. The HVAC professional will look over your HVAC system. They will identify where the mold is growing, and remove it. You never want to ignore this HVAC smell. Mold spores can be harmful to your respiratory health. They will continue circulate by your HVAC system.

Call Us Today For HVAC Help

 

If you notice any of these HVAC smells when you run your system, it's time to give our HVAC professionals a call today. Our HVAC professionals can check your air conditioning system. We can fix the problem as soon as possible. That way, you can get back to enjoying your air conditioning without any pungent odors.