A stinky aircon is the result of different internal and external factors affecting the machine. While it may be hard to get to the source of the foul and pungent smell right away, there are still 7 common reasons that you can look out for when putting an end to this problem. In this article, we present a complete guide into the 7 odor-causing culprits that normally plague an air conditioning unit — and what you can do to never say “My air conditioner smells bad” ever again.

7 Reasons that Cause an AC to Smell Bad

1. Dust, Mildew and Mold

Mold and mildew formations often appear when there’s excess humidity and moisture inside your air conditioner unit. This results in an extremely damp and moist AC system that gives way for these organisms to sprout and multiply. To help prevent this problem from happening, make sure to fix all water leaks and moisture issues inside your AC unit.

2. Dirty Evaporator Coils and Clogged Drain Pans

Is your aircon producing a strong and stinky odor that can only be described by comparing it to smelly feet? If you answered yes, then you might need to go ahead and clean your evaporator coils and unclog the machine’s condensate drain pains. These issues are both known to contribute to an aircon blowing out cool air that smells like sweaty and stinky feet.

3. Cigarette Smoking

If your home or office has recently welcomed a cigarette smoker, then you can expect the strong odor of nicotine to continue lingering in the space for a long time. This is because it can pass through the filter and all the way up to the evaporator coil. You can fix this by changing the aircon filter or scheduling a professional maintenance service with an aircon expert.

4. Overheating Parts

If you’re using your aircon and something suddenly smells burning, don’t panic. Your home or office is far from going up in flames. But your AC? It might be at the risk of overheating. Check for an overheating motor or faulty wiring issues as soon as you encounter this problem. Another thing to watch out for is that the odor can sometimes also smell like gunpowder or even melted, burnt plastic. It’s recommended that you call a professional aircon servicing company right away to fix this problem.

5. Sewage Leaking

When the foul scent of a sewer begins invading your room, it can be because of a dry P-trap. This can travel all the way to the air con system and affect the air quality that surrounds a house or an office. If dry P-traps aren’t to blame, then it might be a backed-up sewer or a ruptured sewer vent pipe. You can contact a professional plumber and an aircon expert to help you in cleaning both the sewage and aircon systems.

6. Rotting Carcass

Are you experiencing a strong and putrid aircon smell that refuses to go away? Then your air conditioning system has most likely played a role in the crime scene of an animal carcass. If you’re experiencing this serious air quality issue, it’s best to contact a professional HVAC maintenance provider or a pest management service right away.

7. Leaking Gas

The smell of a rotten egg in an air conditioning unit can only mean one thing: leaking gas. Natural gas is normally odorless but combined with a chemical named Mercaptan, it can result in a strong and stinky rotten egg scent in the event of a leakage. To fix this, you need to turn off the machine as soon as possible and contact your aircon maintenance provider for professional cleaning and repair.

What to Do When Your AC Stinks

Are you currently experiencing any of these signs with any of your air conditioners? Contact us today at Fresh Air Sdn. Bhd.! Our team of professional air conditioning experts are highly trained to solve the common problems that normally cause bad smell and unbearable odor in your unit.