What happens when you turn on your air conditioner and a gust of smelly air hits you in the face?
An air conditioner that releases foul smells is highly undesirable and difficult for many homeowners to accept. After all, you expect your air conditioner to serenade you with a fresh and cool breeze so you can fully unwind after a tiring day at work.
Here are some reasons why your air conditioner is giving out bad odours, and what you can do to fix the situation!
Dust and Mould Buildup
One of the most common culprits behind a stinky or musty air conditioner is accumulated dust and mould. Just like how these particles affect your shoes, bags and clothes, they can cause your air conditioner to smell bad.
It happens from excess humidity and moisture inside your air-conditioning unit, turning it damp and the perfect place for these organisms to breed and multiply.
Fix any water leak and moisture problem inside your unit, or ring up your technician to solve the problem! Another option is to change it to a new model, like a Mitsubishi 5 ticks aircon that has a dual barrier coating. This coating prevents both classes of dirt from entering your air conditioner.
As a result, you can enjoy clean and comfortable air all-year-round.
Overheating Parts
Smelling something burning from your air conditioner unit usually sparks the perception that it is due to explode. This is not always the case. Most of the time, it stems from an overheated unit. Check whether your unit’s motor is overheating or if there are faulty wiring problems.
Sometimes, it can even smell like burning plastic or gunpowder, which can pose a health risk for the people in the area. Call a professional to resolve the problem as soon as possible.
Gas Leakage
Does your air conditioner smell like a pile of rotten eggs or rubbish that’s been sitting for far too long? This is a clear indicator of leaking gas, a result of natural gas mixed with a chemical called Mercaptan.
When this happens, turn off your appliance immediately and liaise with your air conditioner expert to fix it.
Oil and Cigarette Smoke
Oil and cigarette smoke are classified as “hydrophobic dirt”. In a typical air conditioner, such sources of odours can penetrate the filter and into the evaporator coil. You can solve the issue by changing the filter, getting an expert to fix it, or switching it to a Mitsubishi 5 ticks aircon instead that has the ability to prevent such smells from entering.
Blocked Drain Pans and Filthy Evaporator Coils
If you smell something like smelly socks or sweaty feet, chances are it might not be emanating from you. Dirty air conditioner evaporator coils and clogged drain pans may be a reason for this kind of smell.
In this case, you should clean the coils and unblock the drain pans. Clean the coils regularly and check the drain pans to prevent this problem from recurring.