The air conditioner is your best friend on a hot day until it has a problem and leaves you in the heat. When a central air conditioner smells like chemicals, you have two choices. Shut the air conditioner down and sweat through your shirt. Or risk damaging your air conditioner and smelling chemicals all day.
Let’s try to avoid that. Don’t just wonder why does my AC smell like chemicals. Keep reading to figure out why.
What Causes The AC To Smell Like Chemicals?
There are a few things that make an air conditioner smell like chemicals.
Refrigerant Leak
If you have a chemical smell coming from your AC, you might have a refrigerant leak. Refrigerant circulates within your AC unit and absorbs heat from the ambient air. The system shouldn’t leak. But when it does, it takes on a sweet smell, kind of like antifreeze. So if your home air conditioner smells like antifreeze, you probably have a refrigerant leak.
You might also notice a hissing sound audible from your refrigerant lines or a trickle of fluid dripping from the system. Tracing the fluid may reveal the source. But only licensed technicians can repair these systems, as the government regulates refrigerants.
Related Article – Best HVAC Refrigerant Leak Detectors Reviewed
Dirty Evaporator Coil
An evaporator coil looks kind of like a car radiator. It sits inside of your AC unit, and it helps to absorb the moisture and heat from the air as the unit runs. However, if the coil gets inundated with dirt, it won’t work properly, and the moisture may build up in the dirt. That may eventually allow mold or mildew to grow.
That mildew gives off a signature scent. Many people describe it as metallic. Some say it makes their window AC smell like ammonia. The good news is that a technician can clean the coils pretty easily.
Related Article – How Often Do Evaporator Coils Need To Be Cleaned?
Frozen Or Clogged Condensate Line
Every AC system has a condensation line. The moisture that your system collects from the air drips into a drainpipe called the condensate line. When that pipe becomes clogged with debris, the water won’t drain properly. As the unit generates more water, it may back up into the drain pan.
Before you know it, your AC smells like ammonia, or it has a metallic odor.
Related Article – What To Do If The Evaporator Coil Is Frozen
Leaky Ductwork
The ducts that carry the air through your AC system can develop leaks. Where there are gaps in the duct, smells can find their way into your system, including chemical smells. So if there’s a chemical smell in the house from the air conditioner, you might want to check for issues with the ducts.
Leaky ducts also make your system very inefficient. So you may even want to have a professional test the ducts for leaks.
Related Article – Best HVAC Tape Duct Sealants
An External Source: Danger!
If your home air conditioner smells like paint thinner, you could have a problem that’s pretty dangerous. The same goes for some other chemical smells. The chemical smell from the AC might be due to something inadvertently near the air handler or the intake vent.
If there’s a noxious chemical in the air nearby, your air conditioner might be recirculating a chemical. For instance, if your air conditioner smells like chlorine, it might be because you left a bucket of chlorine for your pool open near the air handler. Same if your AC smells like paint. It will keep circulating until you seal the bucket or move it away.
Related Article – Is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Possible From An AC?
What Kind Of Chemicals Can You Smell From Your Air Conditioner?
You could smell a variety of chemicals from your AC. Let’s look at a few specific smells and what they might indicate.
Why Does My AC Smell Like Refrigerant?
If your AC smells like refrigerant, you probably have a leak.
What Does AC Coolant Smell Like?
Refrigerant smells like antifreeze.
Home Air Conditioner Smells Like Paint Thinner
If your AC smells like a paint thinner, there might be some spilled near your air handler, or perhaps you have some near a leaky duct.
AC Smell Like Antifreeze
If your AC smells like antifreeze, it might be due to a refrigerant leak. They both smell sweet.
AC Smell Like Metals
If your AC smells like metals, you might have an issue that’s allowing the growth of mildew or mold. Some people say it smells tinny or metallic.
AC Smell Like Bleach
An AC that smells like bleach might have something near the air handler that is causing the smell. For instance, if you just ran a load of laundry with bleach, and the air handler pushes the smell through the system, it may make the AC vent smell like bleach.
AC Smell Like Paint
If you smell paint from your AC vent, it’s likely that there is paint open near the air handler or by a leak in the duct.
AC Smell Like Chlorine
An AC that smells like chlorine might have chlorine stored near the air handler. Chlorine is corrosive, so you want to make sure to keep it sealed up in an appropriate container.
AC Smell Like Rotten Eggs
If the AC smells like rotten eggs, you may have a leaking battery somewhere. Leaking batteries smell like sulfur, and sulfur sometimes smells like rotten eggs.
AC Smell Like Musty Smell
If an AC smells musty, there may be a mold or mildew issue.
AC Smell Like Electrical Burning
If your AC smells like electrical burning, shut the unit off immediately. If there is smoke, call the fire department immediately, and then shut the fuse for the unit off in your fuse box and evacuate the house.
How To Fix An AC With A Chemical Smell
Only qualified technicians can service an AC system, particularly the refrigerant inside of an AC unit. That applies to all types of air conditioners. Plus, since they all are susceptible to similar problems, if you have a chemical smell from a window, central, portable, mini split, or if your car AC smells like chemicals, you can troubleshoot by using the guide to smells above.
If your AC has a chemical smell caused by a smell in the environment, you can fix it by removing the source of that smell. If there is a gap in the ducts, you may be able to reseal it with duct tape or foil. If you think the condensate line is clogged, shut the AC off. Some units might even detect the water building up in the drain pan and shut off automatically. You can flush the drain line or call a pro for help.
But, the question of how to fix the AC that smells like these chemicals usually has one answer: call a service technician.
Related Article – How Often Should I Have My HVAC Serviced?
How To Prevent The AC From Smelling Like Chemicals?
The best way to prevent chemical smells from your AC is to have it serviced regularly. You should also keep an eye out for any signs that the unit isn’t performing at its best, as that’s a sign your unit isn’t working right. You’re still paying full price for the electricity to run it, though. So address any chemical odors right away.
Should You Smell Anything At All From Your AC?
Your AC should smell clean and fresh, but also familiar, as it carries the odors from in your home.
Conclusion
AC systems shouldn’t smell like chemicals. So if you smell chemicals from your AC, you should investigate the system for obvious issues, like spills nearby. If the smell persists, shut off the unit. You can avoid most chemical smells by servicing the AC unit routinely. So, consider calling in a pro today!
Related Article – Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell?
