5 Types of Smells That Can Come From Your AC

You enter your business and find that it has a faint odor. You turn on the commercial AC unit, and the smell becomes a lot stronger. That is when you discover that the air conditioner might be the source of the bad odor.



Several types of smells can come from your AC. Read on to learn some smells that can emanate from your air conditioner.

1. Exhaust Fumes

While an air conditioner doesn't run on gas power, you might smell exhaust fumes from the AC. The smell usually emanates from fluids in the air conditioner that smell like exhaust fumes. When these fluids leak out, the smell may spread throughout your property. 

The fluids can release vast amounts of toxic gases that can be hazardous to your health and deplete oxygen in the bloodstream. These leaks are dangerous and require the immediate attention of professional HVAC experts. In the meantime, open all windows and leave the premises immediately.

2. Rotten Eggs Smell

The smell of rotten eggs from your AC vents most often indicates gas leakage in your system. Because natural gas has no smell, gas distributors and utilities add methyl mercaptan, which can smell like rotten eggs. This method makes it easy to detect a gas leak before it can cause serious harm.

Once you detect this smell, immediately switch off your gas supply and evacuate your building. The next step is to contact a professional heating and cooling company to fix the problem.

3. Electrical Odors or Burning Smell

Your air conditioning unit has several electrical components, including compressors, fans, power wires, and circuit boards. Electrical component failure, mechanical problems, and short-circuiting can cause a burning smell from the AC vents. This smell resembles that of burning plastic or gunpowder.

A burning smell doesn't necessarily indicate problems with your HVAC unit. If your unit has not been in use for a long time, the smell may be from the burning of dust in the units. But if the smell doesn't go away after a few minutes, your AC unit has a problem. 

If you notice a burning smell from your HVAC unit, turn off the unit immediately and seek professional help.

4. Feet

A clogged-up or extremely dirty air conditioner can produce the smell of stinky feet or socks. The smell typically occurs with an AC that isn't draining properly or has sitting water. Improper drainage allows dirt and water to build up in the AC and fester. Contact an HVAC technician to resolve the problem.

5. Mold

A dingy and stale smell is probably the most common smell that can come from AC units. The smell indicates fungus or mold is growing inside or around the HVAC unit. Mildew and fungus thrive if condensation and water build up in the drip lines or drain pan. This problem is common in buildings in humid environments or wet weather conditions.

Excessive moisture usually ends up in an AC. If the AC can't properly drain the moisture, the moisture will escape into the air ducts and cause mildew to grow there. Moisture can also accumulate on dirty filters, encouraging mildew growth. 

Changing the AC filter can temporarily fix the problem. But a more long-term solution is to have a professional thoroughly clean the air ducts to get rid of the mold and mildew. The professionals will also check for any signs of condensation and provide the appropriate solutions.

The professionals at Gordon Mechanical NV can identify the cause of the bad smell and fix the problem right away. We can also install, repair, and maintain air conditioning, freezers, and refrigeration systems. Call us today to learn how we can help you.