What's That Odor? 4 Reasons Your Air Conditioner Stinks
The weather may be cold now, but spring will be here before you know it. When it does arrive, you'll want your air conditioner to be ready for the increasing temperatures. That includes making sure it's not giving off any odd odors. That last thing you want is to have odors from your air conditioner invading your home. Unfortunately, if you don't have your ducts cleaned and your AC serviced, that's exactly what you could be facing this winter. You might not realize this, but there are quite a few things that can cause odors from your ducts. Here are just four of the problems that could lead to AC odors.
Accumulation of Dirt
If your house smells like dirt whenever you turn the air conditioner on, there's a strong possibility that the odor is caused by dirt in your ducts or in the air conditioner itself. Dirt and dust accumulate inside your ducts. When you turn your air conditioner on, those particles are blown into your home, causing the odor. If your air conditioner is dirty, especially the coils, you'll get an added whiff of dirt from that area as well. Avoid the dirty odors when you turn on your air conditioner by scheduling a duct and AC cleaning before spring.
Moisture-Causing Mold
When you live in an area of high humidity, your ducts are probably quite moist inside. Unfortunately, wherever there's a buildup of moisture, mold won't be far behind. If you've got mold growing in your ducts, you'll be breathing in mold spores each time the air conditioner is turned on. Not only does mold cause an unpleasant odor in your home, but it also poses a serious health risk, especially if you or someone in your family suffers from asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems. You can get rid of the mold and the unpleasant odor by cleaning your ducts.
Dead Animals
If you've started noticing foul odors coming from your ducts, you could have a dead animal inside the ducts. It's not uncommon for small animals to find their way into your ducts. Unfortunately, once they're inside, they can't always find their way out. If that happens, you'll be dealing with the odors caused by a decaying carcass inside your ducts. At the first hint of foul odors coming from your ducts, you need to call your HVAC technician. They can inspect your ducts and identify the cause of the odor.
Burnt Wires
If your home smells like burning wires whenever you turn the air conditioner on, you need to call your HVAC technician right away. Your air conditioner could be overheating, leading to electrical malfunction. If the problem isn't repaired quickly, you could be at risk for an electrical fire.
For more information, contact an air conditioning repair professional.
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