Your air conditioner smells bad? In this post we discover together the causes and possible remedies to eliminate an annoying and potentially harmful problem.
Index:
- Possible causes of bad smell
- Sewer smell
- Musty smell from the AC
- Stuffy smell: AC filters cleaning
- The air conditioner smells like gas? What to do
- How to solve the problem
Possible causes of bad smell
First of all, it is essential to identify the type of bad smell in the air. Is it a stuffy smell, a musty smell, a sealed smell, or even worse, a gas smell?
With the exception of this last hypothesis, the causes can be attributed to the lack of cleanliness of the air-conditioning unit. More precisely, to the accumulation of dirt in the air filter area or there is condensation in the split, caused by a possible obstruction in the exhaust system.
Let us therefore examine, individually, the different types of odours in order to understand how to solve the problem.
Sewer smell
If there is a bad smell coming from the air conditioner similar to that of a sewer or stagnant water, the problem probably lies in the condensate drain pipe, which may be dirty or obstructed by something that prevents the water from the outdoor unit from flowing properly.
It happens when dirt or small insects settle in the pipe when the air conditioner is not in use. The water then starts to stagnate in the condensate tray and emit that typical bad sewer smell.
Another sign of the same problem could be a water leak from the split. In this case it will be necessary to detach the pipe (which is usually interlocked) and, with the help of a wire, or simply a powerful water jet, free it from the obstruction. Once remounted to the outside machine, the bad smell should disappear.
Musty smell from the AC
If, on the other hand, a musty odour comes from the air-conditioning system, this could be worrying, as it can have health consequences. Breathing mouldy air can in fact be dangerous and harmful.
The cause of mould proliferation lies in the moisture inside the air conditioning unit. The only thing to be done, in this case, is to clean the interior thoroughly, to prevent this unpleasant smell from emanating from the fins.
Before any operation, remember to switch off the air conditioner and, for greater safety, also the switch that powers it
Stuffy smell: AC filters cleaning
Have you turned on the air conditioning and, after a while, smelled the classic stuffy smell? In this case, the reason is poor filter cleaning.
When dirt and dust accumulate, the filters become clogged, causing this unpleasant smell. Regarding the maintenance of your air conditioning unit we recommend the post how to clean your air conditioning unit.
It is a simple operation, which you can do yourself at home, with the help, perhaps, of the instruction manual and the appropriate air conditioner maintenance accessories.
The air conditioner smells like gas? What to do
What if the bad smell emanating from the air-conditioning system smells like gas instead? In this case too, the problem is easily solved.
If you smell this odour, it is likely that the refrigerant gas in the machine has run out. Simply recharge it and the problem will be solved. Our advice in this case is to call in an AC specialist.
The operation is not difficult, but to carry it out you need special tools and the knowledge to use them well.
How to solve the problem
Turning on the air conditioning and smelling a bad odour is certainly unpleasant, considering why it is advisable to keep it off until the problem is resolved. In particularly hot weather, this is not the ideal situation to be in, but thanks to this little insight you can know where to start and how to identify the problem.
The solutions, as we have seen, are easily implemented independently in most cases, but for some special situations, as mentioned, it is always better to seek the intervention of a technician.
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