We install air conditioners to help us feel cool in our homes. But when you start to observe unpleasant odors coming from your cooling system, it’s more than just irritating. It can greatly affect your home comfort.
Where are these smells coming from?
Start with what the odor smells like. If the odor resembles a rotten egg, this could be a sign of a gas leak. If this is the case, you should open your windows, turn off the gas supply, evacuate the home and reach out to the gas company. Allow 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 problem.
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 front and center, cleaning them can often go overlooked.
Buildup of mold, dirt and other particles is one of the most common sources of odors with air conditioners. It can occur with the coils, drain pain, air ducts or even your filter. Thankfully, regular maintenance can help decrease this buildup and reduce the probability that an unfriendly smell starts dispersing throughout your house.
Heat and moisture can contribute to increased mold growth, namely in warmer climates. Not only can mold and mildew induce 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 remove the animal.
Where do I start?
Check your filter. This is a usual culprit for air conditioner odors. If it’s been a long time since you’ve swapped your air filter, try replacing it with a brand new one. We typically suggest changing your filter every few 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 exchanged the filter and it’s not helping, it’s probably time to reach out for some help. Especially if it’s been an lengthy period of time since your last air conditioning inspection. The pros can assess 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 be enhanced from a proper cleaning.
If you have anxiety about the odors in your home, AW Heating & Air Conditioning can help you take a look at the situation and talk through possible solutions. You should be able to enjoy your cool indoor space during the warmer summer months, without having to suffer with unwanted odors. You can schedule an appointment with our team online or give us a shout at 402-438-7992.
