Why Does My Air Conditioning Smell? Top Reasons

Have you ever come in from a hard day of yard work, turned the AC down a few degrees, and thought, “why does my air conditioning smell?” Unpleasant odors emanating from your unit indicate a problem with your air conditioning. Keep reading to learn the most common AC issues.

At Eazy Breezy, our technicians provide comprehensive Oro Valley HVAC services. We can perform a thorough inspection to identify, resolve, and even prevent any issues with your AC unit.

1. Rotten Eggs Are a Red Flag for Gas Leaks

The most crucial odor to be on alert for is the smell of rotten eggs because it may indicate a gas leak. Natural gas is odorless, and manufacturers add a chemical called methyl mercaptan. This chemical creates an unmistakable, putrid egg odor that only becomes apparent in a gas leak that has found its way into your ducts.

If you’re asking yourself, “why does my air conditioning smell like rotten eggs?” quickly perform the following tasks:

• Turn off your gas and call your gas company.
• Put out any candles and do not use any matches or lighters.
• Open the doors and windows to ventilate your house.
• Do not operate household appliances.
• Evacuate the home until your gas company can locate and fix the source of the leak.

2. Burning Smells May Indicate a Mechanical Malfunction

Air conditioners have many electrical components that may overheat, so a burning smell from your vents indicates, perhaps obviously, that something is burning. The circuit board, wiring, compressor, or fan motor may have shorted, so you should disable the HVAC system in your breaker box. If the burning smell does not disappear, contact the fire department and evacuate your home.  

3. Putrid Smells Could Be a Decomposing Animal

Animals seeking refuge may find their way into your air conditioning system only to become trapped and die. If you don’t know where the animal carcass is in your ducts, our technicians can find it and remove it. Once the critter is gone, clean the area and ensure it is dry before restarting your AC.

4. A Musty Smell Is a Sign of Mold Buildup

Mold is the most common issue with an air conditioning unit that can create foul smells. Water in your ducts spawns mold; once it does, you will need to hire a professional to clean your system thoroughly. A musty smell could also signify a dirty air filter, which you can buy at any hardware store and quickly replace on your own.

Learn More About AC Maintenance and Repair

Did you know that the location of your thermostat affects its performance? The thermostat operates the system’s HVAC, and inefficiency can result in several problems with your air conditioning system, so it’s essential to know the best location for a thermostat to optimize the performance of your unit.

If your AC is experiencing problems, or you’re wondering, “why does my air conditioning smell?” give Eazy Breezy Heating & Cooling a call at 520-207-0334, and we’ll send one of our technicians out to give you the quality service you deserve!