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If you’ve noticed a foul smell coming from your air conditioning unit or ducted system, we can help you diagnose and fix it!

A foul smell might signify something’s wrong with your air conditioning, and if you’re not sure what to do, we suggest calling an HVAC repair service in Dallas/Fort Worth.

How do you fix a smelly air conditioning unit?

If you have a commercial air conditioning system in a school, office, retail shop, warehouse, or university, and there’s a bad smell in one room or several building areas, usually this is a clue that the system needs service.

Commercial systems have an extensive setup, so fixing a bad smell can be more complicated than a residential air conditioning unit.

Because a residential air conditioning system is generally smaller, a foul smell may be something you can resolve by simply cleaning your system.

So, while we don’t recommend that you fix issues yourself because this could void your warranty or cause more problems later on, there are a few simple things you can do to maintain your aircon unit, get rid of bad smells, and improve the longevity and performance of your system.

Types of air conditioner smell

Musty smell from your aircon

A musty or damp smell is likely a build-up of mildew, which means there’s moisture in the system.

With mildew, the unit needs service. The best thing to turn off the system and contact an HVAC pro to help you. First, we need to find how moisture builds up in the design and provide the right solution to fix the issue.

Dirty socks smell

Air conditioner technicians describe the smell of bacteria or fungi as smelling like dirty socks.

Bacteria in your aircon unit or ducted system can lead to serious health issues down the road – so make sure you contact Tri-Tech for an air conditioning service if you can’t identify or fix that dirty sock smell.

Sewage smell

Sewage smells in your air conditioner could be a broken pipe in the system – if you can smell sewage, this may indicate a severe issue. Don’t let the problem escalate; call our expert team immediately!

Rotten egg smell from your aircon

Did you know that natural gas is odorless? The artificial smell is deliberately added so that you can identify a potential leak.

This unmistakable smell can indicate a severe risk, so turn off your aircon immediately.

If you can smell rotten eggs, vacate the premises and call an expert.

Smoke smells

Smoke from your aircon unit is often the first warning sign of an electrical problem.

If this regularly happens when the unit has been on for a long time, or you think the team is getting too hot, this might be a warning sign of a wiring issue with the setup or a faulty circuit board in your home.

Smoke means a potential fire – we suggest you immediately stop using your system and contact an expert to check the wiring.

What’s causing the foul odor coming out of the air conditioner?

Your air conditioning system traps dirt and dust in the unit from the air, so we always advise our clients to have regular air conditioning services to keep the air quality as clean as possible. Standard air conditioning service and maintenance ensure that you remove any dust and dirt build-up.

How do you get the odor out of an air conditioner?

If you’re struggling with a foul-smelling air conditioning unit, we recommend booking a service with a Tri-Tech air conditioning expert.

In some cases, you can follow some simple tips to try to solve the problem. However, if the issue persists or you’re unsure what to do, get in touch with us today.

Turn off the air conditioner.

Before you start cleaning your air conditioner, make sure the main power to the unit or system is switched off to avoid the risk of electrical shock.

Change the air filters.

If someone in your home or workplace struggles with allergies, you have pets, live in a dusty city, or want to ensure you’re breathing quality clean air, change your air filters regularly or book a service with us, and we can do this for you.

You are changing the air filters at least once every couple of months will also help the longevity of your unit and remove any unwanted smells from dirt trapped in the filter.

Clean the air filters

Some air filters for AC units don’t need to be changed, but they may be in desperate need of a cleaning!

Cleaning air filters in a split system is relatively easy. Open up the unit and gently pull out the filter. We recommend snapping a quick photo with your phone before you remove the filter – this will make replacing it much easier!

You can wash a filter in plain water. Just rinse until the dirt is removed, and allow the filters to dry before popping them back in.

Clean the air vents

First, make sure the power for the unit is turned off; you can use soap or bleach and water to clean your air vents. We recommend you do this at least once a year.

If there’s any build-up of dirt or moisture in the air vents, cleaning the ducts is a great place to remove the bad smell.

Clean the evaporator coils

This can be a bit tricky, so always rely on the experts for professional help if in doubt.

Often the coils can trap dirt, which can be the source of a bad smell in your air conditioner unit.

Clean the condensate line

Sometimes there’s a sludge build-up in the drip tray, which is located inside the aircon unit.

The water that drains from the condensate line needs to be wiped away. Old stagnant condensation and moisture can cause a foul smell that you don’t want to be pumped around your house or workplace.

Ductwork or faulty part

If you’ve replaced or cleaned the air filter, cleaning the unit, and checked for any leaks, and there’s still a bad smell, it might be the ductwork.

Give us a call, and we will inspect the ductwork and identify any issues.

Can an air conditioning repair & maintenance specialist remove the bad smell?

If you’ve tried to clean your unit and the bad smell is persistent, it sounds like it’s time to call an air conditioning technician!

We can promptly investigate the issue and provide aircon repairs to get the problem fixed quickly and once again restore comfort to your home or workplace.

Whether it’s terrible smells, weird noises, smoke, or the unit is underperforming, Tri-Tech provides air conditioning serving and air conditioning maintenance to ensure your system continues to work at its best.

How often do I need air conditioning maintenance to keep the odor from reoccurring?

We recommend regular maintenance and servicing at least once a year and often more frequently for more extensive, commercial setups.

Ongoing maintenance can help increase both the lifespan and performance of your system. Think of it as a health check-up for your aircon!

Need air conditioning service or repairs?

Contact professional HVAC repair services in Dallas/Fort Worth.

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