Many of us install air conditioners to help us feel relaxed in our homes. But when you start to notice unpleasant odors coming from your cooling system, it’s more than just bothersome. It can greatly affect your home comfort.
Where are these smells coming from?
Focus on what the odor smells like. If the odor resembles a rotten egg, this could be an indication of a gas leak. If this is the case, you should open your windows, turn off the gas supply, evacuate the home and contact 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 probably have a different challenge.
Just like anything in your home, if your air conditioner isn’t cleaned well or taken care of, there’s a good chance that dirt and dust will develop. And because components of your air conditioner aren’t right in front of you, cleaning them can often go overlooked.
Buildup of mold, dirt and other particles is one of the most common sources of odors with air conditioners. It can occur with the coils, drain pain, air ducts or even your filter. Thankfully, regular maintenance can help prevent this buildup and reduce the odds that an unfriendly smell starts dispersing throughout your house.
Heat and moisture can contribute to increased mold growth, particularly in warmer climates. Not only can mold and mildew develop a nasty smell, but it can also negatively impact the quality of air in your home.
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?
Analyze your filter. This is a common culprit for air conditioner odors. If it’s been a long time since you’ve exchanged your air filter, replace it with a brand new one. We typically recommend changing your filter every three months. But it’s also vital to keep in mind other reasons that would require you to replace it more frequently, such as pets in the home or if a family member has allergies or asthma.
If you’ve replaced the filter and it’s not reducing the smell, it’s probably time to contact a professional. Especially if it’s been an extended period of time since your last air conditioning inspection. Technicians can examine the situation to see if a thorough cleaning can do the job. You may also want to consider having your air ducts cleaned. Professional duct cleaners can take a look to see if your indoor air quality would benefit from a proper cleaning.
If you have concerns about the odors in your home, Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning can help you review the situation and talk through possible solutions. You should be able to enjoy your cool indoor space in the warmer summer months, without having to suffer with unwanted odors. You can book an appointment with our experts online or give us a shout at 204-272-8128.
