Along with cooling, one of the functions of an air conditioner is to remove excess moisture. However, someair conditioning problems are more mysterious and frequently require some professional intervention to resolve. The moisture (and importantly, all the smells in your moist air, as alluded to above) condense on the cold coil. But, if it doesn’t, it pools somewhere. We’ll get to the bottom of it quickly, and you can go back to enjoying your summer. But, technically, you’re not noticing the fungus itself. Let me know if you tried some of these tips and how well did it work for you. If you start smelling a moldy odor, your air conditioner has most likely started growing fungus. And, it can be dangerous. Odds are, it’s the same thing. If your air conditioner smells like urine or pee, you could be dealing with a few different problems. This reminds me of going to the nursing home and seeing my Dad, and this is a smell that I do not like. If your system kicks on and it suddenly smells like an old attic or basement, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with exactly what you’re smelling—dust and debris! Again, accumulation of old, dirty water, or a clogged air filter, can also be the culprit, or there may be build-up on the condenser, or evaporator, coils. Unfortunately, this kind of stink may indicate that there is gas leaking somewhere near your system. It’s usually residue from whatever burned or got damaged. Why does my air conditioner smell like pee? © 2020 Broadleys Energy Solutions Terms of Service | Sitemap, An animal died in or near your HVAC system. This odor could very well be the result of a sewer line that has backed up or ruptured near the duct system for your AC. Then, it’s easy to clean out. The situation can be particularly serious if you detect the smell of smoke. Rather, there could be a leak somewhere else, and the gas is seeping into the system and circulating. Electrical Odors . (We had a stinking hot day 3 days ago and the system was on all day, but we've done that before without any issues). Air conditioning odors usually come from mold and mildew that accumulate from condensation on the refrigerator coils, in a clogged drain pan, or leak in the system. Mold and mildew growth is the most common cause of bad smells in your AC system. It’s not exactly the result you anticipated, right? I have a 2005 Honda Pilot and just recently it has started smelling like urine coming in from the outside, as soon as I turn on the air conditioning the smells stops. The plastic used in these components contains a chemical that emits a fish or urine-like smell when it gets extremely hot or burns. The more specific your description, the easier the problem will be to diagnose. Just picture it: Its a hot North Carolina day, and all you want to do is come to the cool relief of your air-conditioned home. Odds are, no one’s been in a shore house, second home or rental property for a few months. It’s common in the winter for animals to find a warm place to stay. But luckily, noticing these variations actually make finding the cause much easier. But for now, let’s get to the bottom of what’s happening with your air conditioner. And, you’ll be sure your air conditioner is in great shape and running efficiently. Left unchecked, this could become a dangerous problem. Occasionally, truth be told, the smell of cat pee is just that, cat pee. So, be sure and call a technician, or plumber, to check out your system immediately. Skunks don’t usually choose to die in or around ductwork, so a decomposing critter is probably not the culprit here. When moisture is not drained properly it starts to grow fungus. I can smell the pee smell for about a minute and then it seems to go away even with … Pests can sneak in through different pipes, and if they’ve taken a wrong turn into an HVAC system or got stuck in the vents, you might need to remove them from the ductwork. The methyl mercaptan produced by gas, closely resembles the smell of skunk spray and may be entering your house through the duct system. If you notice that your house smells like your son just put his gym socks into your air conditioner or if your house generally smells musky or like a gymnasium when your air conditioner kicks on, then you could have dirty sock syndrome. When the system dehumidifies the house, the water vapor it captures condenses back to liquid. There is a roof deck immediately above this window. These contaminants grow in dark, damp areas. If there’s an odor coming from your A/C that smells like rotten garbage or urine, you could have a dead animal in your air ducts. Either way, it’s a good idea to call us right away if your AC smells bad. But, you should turn your system off right away. The odor could be an indication of more serious problems, like mold or damaged duct work. A common call is that the AC has a funny smell when they turn it on. I thought it was water in the bottom of the unit not getting out, so I drilled a small hole in the back so the water will drain, and sprayed Lysol inside of it, washed the filtter and it still smells. This odor could very well be the result of a sewer line that has backed up or ruptured near the duct system for your AC. Instead, the problem is probably mold. You will likely detect this gas-like smell coming from the supply vents, but it shouldn’t build up and tends to dissipate as you run the unit. If your air conditioner smells like urine, you are likely dealing with the mycotoxins produced by mold. When something malfunctions in the AC system, our first instinct is to try and fix the problem ourselves. One of the most common smells reported by customers is a moldy odor. It’s likely not creating a health issue. A dirty air filter can also contribute to the smell of mildew. What you smell is actually methane gas produced by the sewage that has moved into the duct work and is being blown throughout your home. 1. Your unit will need a thorough cleaning with a solution especially formulated to kill these opportunistic bacteria and protect the coils. A circuit board could be fried, or a motor’s broken, for instance. For instance, you turn on your unit, and the cool air is accompanied by an unpleasant smell. If you are experiencing an electrical, burning odor, or gas smell, turn off the unit and call your HVAC technician right away. A dead animal is frequently the culprit when you detect that unmistakable stench of spoiled eggs coming from the air vents of your AC system. Sometimes, that’s on or near an outdoor AC unit. The hot air discharges from the back of the unit, while the condenser coils and a fan cool and re-circulate indoor air. But, technically, you’re not noticing the fungus itself. However, there are some odors that can smell just like gas, but are actually caused by dust that settles on the heat exchanger and burns off when you turn on the unit for the first time in the season. People with asthma or other respiratory issues may start having allergy-like symptoms. It’s tough to do a visual inspection for mold, as we mentioned. We’ve also had calls where people say they smell a skunk when they turn on the AC. There is a musty cat urine smell coming out of my A/C vents and I am at the end of my rope. My window air conditioner smells like pee when it's on. If you smell urine coming from your air conditioner, it’s probably not because someone relieved themselves where they shouldn’t have. Common odors from air conditioners include: Musty, dusty, thick smells. Sometimes, people also call us saying they smell ammonia rather than urine. This is another one where things aren’t always what they seem. We get these kinds of calls a lot in Jersey shore towns like Avalon, Stone Harbor, and Ocean City, NJ. Characterizations of these odors run the gamut from rotten eggs, to cat pee, smelly feet and beyond. Probably the most common culprit is a clogged filter. This describes a foul, stinky odor often emitted when you first turn on your AC at the beginning of the season. So, if there’s a problem, it’s been left for a while and gotten worse. If your HVAC unit smells like it might be overheating, it very well could be. More so if the unit is running in tropical climate, because sultry weather conditions are not exactly favorable circumstances for air-conditioning units to run if … Instead, the problem is probably mold. We’ll send out a professional to inspect your AC system before you’re ready to turn it on. We’ve been servicing the Jersey Shore for more than 70 years and are ready to help you! Most of the time the mold itself isn’t too much of a problem – especially if we catch it early. Other repairs may involve replacing some parts and, therefore, be more expensive. A urine or ammonia smell If you smell urine coming from your air conditioner, it's probably not because someone relieved themselves where they shouldn't have. Call Broadley’s for your air conditioner repair in Marmora, Avalon, Stone Harbor, Ocean City, or Upper Township, NJ. View the best range of split system air conditioners in Australia online or in store at The Good Guys. Here are 5 common HVAC odors and what they indicate. If your air conditioner is beginning to smell, then it's time to find and clear the source of the bad odor. Central air conditioners share the ducts of the home’s heating system, and the compressor and condenser are in a housing located out of doors. 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