Electrical Smell From Air Conditioner

Electrical components are burning if you notice a burning plastic smell that also smells like sulfur or rotten eggs there could be a dangerous electrical failure lurking within your air conditioning system.

Electrical smell from air conditioner.

Have a professional locate and repair the leak before recharging your system with refrigerant. When you turn on the air conditioner you may smell stale cigarette smoke. For example there may be bad wiring in your air conditioner wiring or your motor may be burning out. There are plastic components surrounding the wiring with your system and is the wiring starts you burn you will notice a foul odor.

Electronic air cleaners can produce ozone which has a slightly sweet scent. If you experience a smell similar to burning plastic rubber or a burning electrical smell this is not normal and will require professional help. In the fall the first few times the heater kicks on it may emit a burning odor that can smell electrical and dusty. Other contaminants in your hvac system will do the same if left unattended.

Give it 20 to 30 minutes and see if the smell dissipates. Burning plastic or rubber smells indicate there is a piece within the unit that is melting. When your heater is burning off dust and dirt it will smell musty. Instead the cause is likely mold or mildew.

Electrical odors can have a variety of causes. Also known as bacterial growth mold and mildew will circulate through your indoor air once it has settled in your air conditioner. A stale and dingy smell is by far the most common and foul smell that is experienced from acs. We have a name for a stale musty and sometimes cheesy smell coming from an air conditioner or other hvac appliance.

Made with a variety of metals and chemicals prolonged exposure to these fumes is not healthy. It s so named because the smell resembles clothes that have been in a sweaty gym bag for way too long. Cigarette smoke if someone has smoked in the home the odors could accumulate in the filter and evaporator coil. But it has nothing to do with sweat or working out.

Mold and mildew growth is the most common cause of bad smells in your ac system. This smell needs to be examined by a professional immediately as there is a risk for fire with any electrical problem. If your air conditioner smells moldy the general cause is accumulation of water in the drain pan or drip lines or ducts in case of ducted systems which can cause fungus or mildew to grow. Electrical odors could indicate a mechanical problem with your ac fan or compressor wiring issues or electrical component failure.