We install air conditioners to help us feel relaxed in our homes. But when you start to notice unpleasant odors coming from your cooling system, it’s more than just irritating. It can greatly impact your home comfort.
Where do bad AC smells come from?
Begin with what the odor smells like. If the odor resembles a rotten egg, this could be a signal of a gas leak. If this is the case, you should open your windows, turn off the gas supply, evacuate the home and contact the gas company. Make sure to let the gas company turn it back on for you. It’s not something you want to mess around with.
If it doesn’t smell like rotten eggs, you have a different issue.
Just like anything in your indoor space, if your air conditioner isn’t cleaned properly or taken care of, there’s a good chance that dirt and dust will accumulate. And because components of your air conditioner aren’t clearly displayed before you, cleaning them can often go overlooked.
Buildup of mold, dirt and other particles is one of the more typical culprits of odor with air conditioners. It can take place with the coils, drain pain, air ducts or even your filter. Thankfully, routine maintenance can help avoid this buildup and reduce the probability that an unfriendly smell starts spreading throughout your home.
Heat and moisture can contribute to increased mold growth, particularly in warmer climates. Not only can mold and mildew develop a nasty smell, but it can also negatively impact the quality of air in your home.
It’s also possible that a tiny creature navigated into your duct system and died. You can turn off your air conditioner and either give our team or pest control a call to come and retrieve the animal.
Where do I start?
Assess your filter. This is a typical culprit for air conditioner odors. If it’s been a long time since you’ve exchanged your air filter, replace it with a brand new one. We typically recommend changing your filter every three months. But it’s also vital to keep in mind other factors that would require you to replace it more frequently, such as pets in the home or if a family member has allergies or asthma.
If you’ve replaced the filter and it’s not helping, it’s probably time to call in an expert. Especially if it’s been an extended period of time since your last air conditioning examination. The pros can examine the situation to see if a thorough cleaning can do the job. You may also want to consider having your air ducts cleaned. Professional duct cleaners can take a look to see if your indoor air quality would benefit from a proper cleaning.
If you have frustrations about the odors in your home, Childress Heating & AC can help you assess the situation and discuss possible solutions. You should be able to enjoy your cool indoor space throughout the warmer summer months, without having to suffer with undesirable odors. You can arrange an appointment with our team online or give us a shout at 540-675-4306.