After a long, sweaty day, you come home and try to relax by turning on your AC. But instead of relief, a foul smell fills your room. Bad smells from your AC unit can be a serious problem for homeowners. But the thing is, you won’t know if the stench is coming from your unit, what type of smell indicates the issue, or what Freon smell is like unless you learn about it first!
Why does your commercial HVAC system smell bad? We’ll explain in detail every kind of smell you can experience if you own an air conditioner. As a special bonus, we’ll also discuss the solutions to each problem.
So let’s take a look:
The Stinky Smells You’ll Encounter and How to Solve Them
1. Musky mold:
Air conditioners’ most common and unpleasant smell is a musty, stale smell. This is usually caused by water buildup in the drain pan or drip lines (or ducts in the case of ducted variants), which can lead to fungus or mildew growth.
When it comes to leakage, you might even see visible signs in your indoor ductless unit, like water dripping down from your interior wall.
Another reason for this stench could be dirty filters. If you reside in a hot, humid location and turn your AC on after a long spell of not using it, moisture can accumulate in your filters.
Solution: You must contact the pros to clean your AC lines and ducts thoroughly. This will only remove the unpleasant smell. Its source will also need to be fixed in case of leakage to prevent further problems.
2. Stinky skunk
The most alarming air conditioner smell on this list indicates a gas leak, specifically of Methyl Mercaptan.
Natural gas is odorless, but utilities and gas distributors add Methyl Mercaptan to give it a distinct smell. This allows for quick detection and prevents any serious harm from gas leakage.
Solution: If your commercial HVAC system smells like skunk spray, there’s no mistaking it. This means gas is leaking even into your ductwork. Turn off your gas supply at the first sign of such a smell. As a second step, contact your utility, which will detect the source and repair the problem.
3. Kooky car exhaust
A commercial HVAC system doesn’t use gasoline to run, so there’s no reason it should smell like exhaust fumes. However, it does use fluids, and when these fluids get heated, they can produce a smell similar to exhaust.
The most likely cause of this smell is a leak in the refrigerant line. Refrigerants are cooling agents inside your air conditioner, and a leak can reduce the performance of your AC unit. Additionally, it releases chemicals into the air, harming everything and everyone around it.
Freon, a chlorofluorocarbon, is the most commonly used refrigerant for automobile and commercial AC systems, although it is being phased out. What it does is absorb heat from indoor air and release it outside. However, it can be very dangerous for the environment. Therefore, you should be cautious if you suspect there is a leak.
You might wonder what Freon smells like whenever you read something about a refrigerant leak.
A Freon leak would smell sweet, like chloroform or your car’s coolant. Even though Freon is an almost odorless gas, you can still detect the smell. However, Freon is heavier than air, so it doesn’t linger in the air for long and quickly falls to the floor.
Solution: If your commercial HVAC system is emitting a chemical smell, you should get it checked by a professional as soon as possible. A Freon leak can be dangerous, but a certified specialist can repair it quickly.
In the meantime, open the windows and ventilate your home. This will not only remove the smell but also prevent any harmful effects from the chemical leak.
4. Unbelievable burning
Your commercial HVAC system may produce a burning smell if there is an electrical fault somewhere in the system. When this happens, turn off the unit quickly and call a professional for help. Never DIY this problem.
Another reason for a burning smell from the air conditioner is that dust can settle inside the unit after it has been inactive for a long time. When the unit is turned on, the dust can burn off and cause a horrible stench. This is only temporary, so there’s nothing to be concerned about.
Solution: If the smell remains, the air conditioner starts to malfunction, or the smell is very strong, turn off the unit and call a local HVAC expert for help.
5. Repulsive rotten eggs
Oddly enough, someone didn’t pelt eggs at your AC unit for this to happen. A foul smell from your commercial HVAC system is usually the result of a dead rodent or other animal stuck in the AC. This is a characteristic and distinct smell you cannot mistake for anything else—it will smell like rotten flesh.
How does this happen? Birds, insects, or other critters can nest or take refuge in your ductwork and, unfortunately, get trapped in the equipment and die. With time, these decomposing animals emit unpleasant smells. When you turn your unit on, it will discharge a foul scent into your office. Dying or unremoved animals can also damage different parts of your HVAC system.
If you own a ductless or central air conditioning unit, lizards and other pests can sometimes go inside, making for an unpleasant experience later on.
Solution: It’s best to always pest-proof your unit to avoid such a nasty scenario and have your commercial HVAC system smell like a dead body. You can always call a technician to remove the dead animal or do it yourself!
You will also need to locate the same duct from where the stench erupts, use a screwdriver to take out the cover, then exhume the carcass. It can be challenging if the dead animal is not visible, so keep a flashlight in quick reach.
Once removed, gently wipe the area and ensure it isn’t wet. Afterward, checking your ductwork to ensure nothing is damaged and sealing any entry points is recommended. What you shouldn’t do is fix broken parts yourself. Contact your repair service immediately.
Get Help from HVAC Swami
Repair and resolve these problems with your commercial HVAC system through HVAC Swami! Our 40 years of experience will address any concerns you may have, courtesy of me, James “Swami” Edgar. Read more about us through our website!
