If you have been experiencing bad smells in your home and you managed to track them down to your air conditioner, it is probably time to give it a good cleaning. If you don’t know how to get rid of the bad smell of your air conditioner, keep reading to find out what the best ways to get rid of the bad odours are.
If you are hesitant about cleaning your AC, you can call a professional to come help you out with it. They will not only help you get rid of the source of the smell but also give you advice on how to keep it away for good.
There are many reasons for bad smells at home. The air conditioning system is no exception. If you don’t regularly clean it, it may also be the cause of strange and unpleasant odours around the house. The reason for that is that air conditioners accumulate dirt and mould over time. This builds up and causes the air that comes out of there to smell bad. If your AC is causing you such issues, it is time to clean it. That is, in fact, not as complicated as you might expect. The basic things you can do is change the filters, wipe any grime and dirt and take care of the moisture and mould that might have accumulated there.
Once you find where the source of the problem is and you clean it, you will want to add this to your regular schedule. Proper maintenance will ensure those odours are at bay and will actually prolong your appliance’s lifespan. Keep in mind that dirty filters may not only cause bad smells but also affect your health.
Common causes for bad AC smells:
Malfunction
If your air conditioner smells like it’s burning, the cause might be a failed component. In such a case you should check if everything works properly. During the hottest summer days, your appliance may overheat. Do not turn it off to let it cool down since it might simply be too late for that. You may have a damaged or failing component in the system or a wiring issue.
What is more, it is common for small animals to get inside your air conditioning system and chew on the wires, causing them to malfunction. Turning the AC off will not help with the problem but you can call a professional to come locate the issue and find the best solution for it. It is always best not to wait for the problem to escalate to reach out for help so make sure you get your air conditioning inspected at least once a year.
Carcass issue
As we mentioned above, small animals may be chewing on your wires and causing damage to them. Not only that, but they may happen to die inside your air conditioner and become the source of the bad smell. This may be hard to deal with but also become a health hazard. If you smell decomposition in your air conditioning system, shut it down immediately and call an HVAC professional to come help with the problem. This may smell like old food left in the garbage for too long or even rotten eggs.
Leakage
Some types of air conditioners can leak fluids such as refrigerants from the unit. This type of leakage might smell just like the exhaust fumes you might encounter while driving in high-traffic areas. They may come and fill your air with that particular odour, just like the fumes may fill up your car. In that case, cleaning will not be required, since the issue is simply technical. Call an HVAC professional instead and let them inspect your appliance.
Do not ignore bad smells coming from your air conditioner
Unfortunately, your air conditioner smelling bad is rather bad news. If it’s a musty, dusty smell, it may simply be a cleaning issue. However, the air emitted in your home should be clean and healthy. Do not compromise your well-being by ignoring such issues. Some smells may take a while to be discovered. This is why regular inspection, a cleaning routine, and proper maintenance are the keys to a well-functioning HVAC system.
Do not allow yourself to become accustomed to the odd smells coming from your air conditioner. Make sure to take care of it before it causes a bigger problem or even results in your appliance being damaged or permanently dysfunctional.
Keep in mind that smells may not only be unpleasant but also become a health hazard to you and your family members. Schedule annual checkups with a licensed HVAC professional and clean the filters of your air conditioner at least once every 2-3 months.