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21.10.2024
Brooke Kirshne
A comfortable indoor temperature has become an essential thing everyone wants nowadays. People in this modern world are very eager to spend time at home, which is full of comfort. To fulfill this wish, an air conditioner (AC) makes this possible. This unique device helps individuals control indoor temperature according to their will. In today’s world, many homes and industries have an AC unit to provide them comfort. But sometimes these people face a very common problem that is caused by their AC. A smell-causing air conditioner can make the indoor environment uncomfortable a lot.
These smells not only affect the comfort level of people but also can put people at some health risk. So that is why understanding the main cause of this issue is important. This will help individuals tackle the problem and they will become able to fix it. The bad smell of an AC can be prevented with the help of some precautions. This blog will provide all the information related to the bad smell of an AC to the readers so they can fix this issue by themselves.
Types Of Smell An AC Can Create
There are many types of bad smells of an AC and learning them will help to identify that the AC unit is not working properly. Knowing the difference between smells can guide individuals to know the main cause of the bad smell of an AC. Here are some of the most common smells created by an air conditioner:
1. Cigarette Smell
An air conditioner can smell like a cigarette too and this can be caused due to smoking inside the house. The odors of the cigarette’s smoke are very and they can be absorbed by the AC unit’s components like the air filter and evaporator coil. So when the air conditioner starts its operation the odor particles of the smoke combine with the air and spread throughout the house from AC’s vents.
2. Burning Smell
The air conditioner consists of many electrical parts for example fans, circuit boards, compressors, wires, etc. These parts of an AC can cause a burning smell in the living space due to short-circuit. So in this situation, the AC users must shut down the AC unit to prevent further damage. Another reason for the burning smell can be an accumulation of dust which can be burned off and cause a burning smell.
3. Car’s Exhaust Smell
If an individual notices a smell of car exhaust in their home or workplace then there is a chance that this smell is caused by an AC. This usually happens due to leakage of refrigerant which is a chemical that helps the air conditioner to control indoor temperature. The leakage throws the chemical into the air which declines the indoor air quality and causes a smell like a car’s exhaust.
4. Skunk’s Smell
Many individuals have an idea of a skunk’s and an air conditioner can cause a smell like this too. This smell is the most noticeable because of its strong odor. It is caused by leakage of gas from the AC unit and Methyl Mercaptan is the reason that makes the gas smell like a skunk. The AC’s gas has no smell which is why the manufacturers add Methyl Mercaptan in the gas so AC users can identify that their cooling system needs to be inspected immediately.
5. Musty Smell
The musty smell is the most common smell that is caused by an air conditioner. This smell is caused by the build-up of fungus and mold inside the ducts. A high level of humidity inside a home can also cause a musty smell. The moisture will trap inside the air filter as a result when the air is consumed by the AC the particles that cause a musty smell join the air which makes the smell of the indoor environment musty.
Factors That Cause AC Smell Bad
Many factors can cause an air conditioner to smell and understanding them helps to know the root cause of the issue. Due to this, AC users can easily target the main problem. So here are the 5 main factors that make an AC smell bad:
- Dirty Drain Pan: The air conditioner helps to remove humid air from the indoor environment. Because of this the small water droplets of the humid air directly go inside the drain pan which is situated under the evaporator coil. The drain pan requires replacement over time and if it is not done timely then mold can grow which may cause a musty smell.
- High Moisture In Ducts: The ducts are one of the most important things that help to spread cool air all over a house. But sometimes the level of moisture inside the ducts can increase due to high humidity or leakage in drainage. Over time the ducts become dirty and when the air passes from the ducts the air gets an uncomfortable smell which AC users can notice in their homes.
- Frozen Evaporator Coil: The evaporator coil is one of the most important parts of an air conditioner because it absorbs the heat from the air with the help of refrigerant. But a frozen coil interrupts the air-cooling process. The coil froze because the air conditioner was not getting enough air supply as a result AC started creating a smell that made the indoor environment uncomfortable.
- Dirty Air Filter: The purpose of an air filter in your AC is to remove airborne particles like dirt and debris which protects the air conditioner’s components and purifies the air. The filter becomes dirty over time and particles that are stuck in the filter start creating smells and this smell moves throughout the house with the help of air ducts.
- Blocked Condensate Line: The condensate line helps to remove excess moisture that builds inside the AC. It throws the moisture outside of the house. But when it becomes blocked, the dirt starts building inside the line which creates an unpleasant smell.
Health Risks From Bad AC Smell
Air conditioners can cause health issues or they can worsen pre-existing health problems. To know how important it is to fix the bad smell of an AC, people should know about the health-related outcomes of this issue. So here are some of the main health risks that caused by an air conditioner:
1. Allergic Reactions
Many people can be allergic to some allergens like mold spores or bacteria. As mentioned in the earlier sections the bad smell of an AC is caused by the build-up of mold inside the AC’s components. These allergens can cause allergic reactions if someone comes in contact.
2. Respiratory Issues
When the air inside the house is smelly due to the bad smell of an AC then it can cause respiratory issues. Symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath can happen to some individuals. Contaminants that change the indoor environment smell can cause issues like asthma.
3. Infections
The bad smell of an AC is caused by the release of gas, chemicals, or particles due to AC’s technical or nontechnical problems. If someone is exposed to these substances for a long time then there is a chance that the person will get infections. People with weak immune systems are at more risk in this kind of situation.
4. Worsen Existed Health Conditions
Health conditions like asthma or other lung diseases can become worse when individuals come into contact with substances that cause the bad smell of an AC. So people who have any kind of respiratory disease should be careful and if they notice any kind of weird smell in their house they should fix the issue as soon as possible.
5. Fatigue
Air conditioner's smell not only decreases the comfort level but it affects the air quality significantly. Poor air quality can cause problems like fatigue which makes an individual less active. This has a negative effect on the overall lifestyle of a person.
Solution For Bad AC Smell
When an air conditioner starts producing an uncomfortable smell then AC users can follow some tips. These tips help them tackle and fix the problem effectively. So here are some of the main key tips that can be the solution for bad AC smell:
- Inspect Filters: Regular filter inspection is one of the most important steps that people usually forget. AC users should do an AC filter inspection once a month. This will help them to ensure whether their filter requires a new replacement or not. By doing this, the problem of bad AC smell can also be prevented.
- Clean The Evaporator Coils: Over a period of time, the evaporator coil is filled with and that needs to be cleaned for the air conditioner’s proper functioning. This makes the AC inefficient at controlling indoor air temperature as a result smell occurs. So the coils need cleaning annually and the AC users should use a soft brush or a specialized cleaner while cleaning the evaporator coil.
- Cleaning The Condensate Line: Checking the condensate line regularly is very important because it helps to remove moisture from the evaporator coil. Cleaning the condensate line will ensure that there is no blockage in it and due to this, the evaporator coil will stay efficient. Individuals can use a solution of bleach and water for cleaning.
- Removing Dirt From Ducts And Vents: Over time the ducts and vents are filled with particles like dirt, dust, pet dander, debris, etc. Removing these things is important so the AC doesn’t create any uncomfortable smell. People can use a vacuum that is attached to a brush to do the cleaning process of ducts.
Conclusion
An air conditioner has become a very important thing in many homes because of its temperature-controlling ability. It provides a comfortable indoor environment to its users. But sometimes AC users face a problem that their AC is smelling bad and this can be caused due to many factors like a dirty air filter, frozen evaporator coil, high moisture in ducts, etc. An AC can cause many types of smells such as the smell of skunk, car exhaust smell, burning smell, musty smell, etc. This problem of smell can be fixed easily by following some simple tips.
The smell caused by an AC also impacts negatively to health because it can worsen conditions like asthma and other lung diseases. Regular inspecting and replacing the AC filter can help a lot to solve the problem of bad AC smell. Cleaning the evaporator coil and condensate line also helps to prevent problems of bad AC smell. So are you trying to find an air filter that helps to improve indoor air quality? The Custom Filters Direct will provide you with an air filter that will be customized according to your needs. To learn more contact us at (877) 355-7834.
