We install air conditioners to help us feel relaxed 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 influence 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 signal 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. 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 home, if your air conditioner isn’t cleaned properly or taken care of, there’s a good chance that dirt and dust will develop. 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 frequent reasons you’ll notice odors with air conditioners. It can occur with the coils, drain pain, air ducts or even your filter. Thankfully, routine maintenance can help prevent this buildup and reduce the odds that an unfriendly smell starts diffusing throughout your space.
Heat and moisture can contribute to increased mold growth, especially 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 house.
It’s also possible that a small animal 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.
What should you do?
Check your filter. This is a common culprit for air conditioner odors. If it’s been a long time since you’ve swapped your air filter, replace it with a brand new one. We typically suggest changing your filter every two to three months. But it’s also important to keep in mind other reasons that would require you to replace it more often, such as pets in the home or if a family member has allergies or asthma.
If you’ve switched the filter and it’s not making a difference, it’s probably time to call in an expert. Especially if it’s been an long period of time since your last air conditioning checkup. They can review the situation to see if a thorough cleaning can do the job. You might consider having your air ducts cleaned. Professional duct cleaners can take a look to see if your indoor air quality would improve from a proper cleaning.
If you have concerns about the odors in your home, Lanz Furnace and Fireplace can help you assess 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 undesirable odors. You can schedule an appointment with us online or give us a shout at 608-291-3606.
