How To Prevent Odor From Air Conditioner: A Full Guide

People try to invest in an Air Conditioner to enjoy a certain lifestyle. Like televisions or refrigerators, air conditioners are a big part of our life. Air conditioning has been a famous home appliance of all modern households since the 1990s. Nowadays, imagining a modern house without an air conditioner is tough. 

The importance of air conditioning increases even more during the summer days. After a hard day at work during summer, the best thing you can ask for is some air conditioning. Resting on the sofa in an air-conditioned room is the perfect relaxation for many of us. 

Like other home appliances, air conditioners can sometimes come across malfunctions or electrical failures. One such problem is the odor problem which can either be negligible or hazardous depending on the situation. 

As a result, some AC manufacturers have devised a variety of odor-control solutions. These features undoubtedly give you a competitive advantage over other AC manufacturers. These are anti-odor features that can be quite effective at times.

Still, knowing about some prevention measures comes in super handy. Luckily, they are simple and often vary depending on the odor type. We have discussed some common odor problems and their causes. We’ve also provided fixes and some maintenance tips as well. 

Stick with us till the end to know more about AC odor problems and their solutions. If you’re looking for an instant solution, you can choose to get air conditioners with odor prevention. House of Butterfly can help you choose one such air conditioner at the best price possible in Bangladesh.

Why does Your Air Conditioner Smell?

Like other electrical appliances, air conditioners can have a variety of problems. These problems usually include leakages, mold build-up, cooling problem, electrical malfunctions, etc. In some rare cases, animal infestation and damaged components can also be the cause of the problems. 

However, each of these problems has its own set of symptoms and generates a distinct odor. For example, odor caused by animal infestation will never be the same as odor caused by electrical leaks or mold buildup.

Because of this reason, identifying the odor correctly is always the first step. To help you understand more, we’ve discussed some of the common odor types that you may come across in the future.

1. Burning Smell

The first one on our list is the burning smell. It’s one of the most common odors that come out of air conditioners. The air conditioner isn’t just one component. Rather it’s a mix of multiple components which are made of other smaller components. 

All the components inside have circuits in them which can sometimes get burnt. Other than that, sometimes the wires can also end up burning. You also have to consider overheating issues, some sort of water damage, dust build-up, etc. 

In some unfortunate cases, short circuits can also burn something which will result in a burning smell.

Solution: Call A Technician

If a component has been damaged, then there’s nothing you can do. However, you can minimize the overall damage by turning the AC off immediately. 

If there’s too much smell, make sure to open the window so that the smoke can go outside. Call a technician immediately and they will send help right away. 

If you have purchased an air conditioner from House of Butterfly, you can simply ask for experts and they’ll do the rest for you!

2. Exhaust Smell

Exhaust smells are a little different than the burning smell and it’s also more hazardous. Exhaust smells are related to oil and lubrication. 

Like other electrical appliances, air conditioners have motors that use oil as a form of lubrication. Because of that, sometimes there can be an oil leakage due to accidental events or overheating issues. This may get the oil burnt and it will create an exhaust smell. 

Exhaust smells are extremely irritating and bad for your health. Oil burn can also create carbon monoxide which is odorless but super unhealthy.

Solution: Ventilate the Room & Call the Service

If you smell any exhaust fumes, turn off the AC immediately. The exhaust smell needs to be ventilated as fast as possible. Open your windows and turn on your ceiling fan to circulate the air out of the room. 

Don’t forget to turn off your gas stove to further prevent any unwanted danger. After that, call the service center and wait for further assistance.

3. Musty Smell

The musty smell is directly related to drainage problems. Air conditioners collect moisture as a part of the process where leakage may occur after a long period. If the air conditioner is indeed leaking water, it will result in a mold build-up if left unattended. You can also find several damaged internal components if the mold spreads.

One of the most common reasons is a clogged air filter. It blocks the airflow access to the evaporator coil which in turn, creates ice over the evaporator coil. This ice then starts to melt and as a result, water drips around the place. This later becomes the foundation of mold growth. 

Another reason might be the condensation pipe that fails to take the collected water outside. When that occurs, water will stay at that place which eventually creates a mold build-up. Other than that, drain pipes can also get clogged due to dirt build-up and cause mold growth. 

Solution: Replace the Broken Parts

If an internal component has been damaged, then you must replace that specific part. But first, you’ll need to locate the area of mold growth and check whether components have been damaged or not. 

If there’s a lot of mold on a specific part, replace it with a new one. Never hesitate to call for support if you think it’s too much to handle!

Chemical Smell

A chemical is quite distinctive and easily identifiable. The scent is quite strong and may seem sweet to you. To be more specific, it smells quite similar to chloroform or ether. 

Unlike the burning or exhaust smell, the chemical smell is caused by refrigerant leakage. It is also one of the most common air conditioner leakages. 

Almost all the time, it indicates a refrigerant leakage and needs immediate attention. The refrigerant is responsible for heat transportation; so when it leaks, it hurts the AC’s overall performance. 

Solution: Inspect the Evaporator Coil & Recharge the Refrigerant

A refrigerant leakage can only occur due to damage to the evaporator coils. Corrosions can also cause it so keep an eye out for any signs. Turn off the AC and go check on the evaporator coil for damages. If you don’t know what you’re doing then call a technician as soon as possible. 

If the refrigerant has leaked, you’ll need to refill the refrigerant. Because otherwise, the air conditioner will fail to cool your home properly. 

How to Properly Maintain An Air Conditioner?

Maintaining an air conditioner doesn’t just prevent AC odor problems. It also helps avert possible electrical failures or malfunctions. As a result, your air conditioner retains its pristine condition and peak performance for longer. 

Here’s how you can maintain your air conditioner: 

Step 1: Turn Off the Power

The process requires working with the air conditioner so you’ll have to turn it off first. To do it, locate the exterior compressor and you’ll find a shut-off box. 

Inside the box, you’ll find the power switch. Turn it off so that you can start working on it. 

Step 2: Clear the Debris

Long-term usage will create debris or dirt build-up in your air conditioner. To clean the debris, you’ll need to detach the fan cage. For this task, you’ll need a screwdriver, wrench, and a vacuum cleaner. 

Use the screwdriver to unscrew the fastener and lift the cage. When it’s away from the unit, you can clean the cage using your hands, clothes, or a vacuum cleaner. 

Step 3: Clean the Fins

After the fan cage, it’s time to wash the fins. These can be extremely dirty so the process might take a while. Start by removing the outer covers and use a vacuum cleaner to clean the dirt. 

When you’re done, use a hose or a water stream and gently run water or spray the fins. Do it both from the outside and the inside. If the fins are super dirty, use a cleaning spray instead. You can also straighten the fins with a butter knife but remember to do it slowly.

Step 4: Clean the Evaporator Coil

Start by locating the evaporator coil door on the inside of the blower unit. Use a brush to clean the dirt from the coil and afterward, clean the coil with a commercial coil cleaner. 

Spraying the coil will create foams that will eventually drip into the drain. Take the drain pan out and clean it with soap. You can also use a 50/50 bleach-water solution to further clean the drain. To prevent any future algae problems, leave a drain pan tablet just in case.

Step 5: Replace the Blower Filter

Blower filters become unusable after 2 years of usage. Replacing the blower filter ensures good airflow in your AC unit. You may have to replace it once a year if the neighborhood is very dusty.

To replace it, locate the blower filter in the blower cabinet. To be more precise, look around the area where the return duct enters the AC unit. Remember to install by matching the air direction and you’re all done!

Notable Air Conditioner Features That Stop the Odor Problem

Technological advancements in electric appliances never stop and air conditioners aren’t an exception either. In today’s market, you can directly buy ACs with odor protection! In case you’re interested, we have discussed them in brief.

LG Air Conditioners

LG is one of the leading brands in terms of home appliances. All LG products come with neat features that enhance the user experience. This is true for their air conditioners as well.

To counter the odor problem, LG AC includes a Plasmaster Ionizer feature that uses negative ions to prevent odor. Negative ions are highly reactive with airborne particles. It collects those particles and separates them from the air. As a result, you get fresh clean air without any odor particles.

Samsung Air Conditioners

Like LG, Samsung air conditioners come with features that are industry-leading. Their answer to the odor problem is quite different than the LG's.

Samsung AC has Easy Filter Plus technology which is super beneficial while being low effort. It’s located on the top of the outside unit which you can easily take out and clean from time to time. The filter comes with an anti-bacterial coating which stops airborne particles and bacteria effectively. 

Haier Air Conditioners

Haier air conditioners are comparatively budget-friendly than LG and Samsung. Unlike LG and Samsung, Haier provides a different solution for the odor problem.

Haier air conditioners come with a feature called Self Clean Mode. This patented technology allows the AC to self-clean itself even in the dustiest environment. In other words, it’s the perfect AC if you don’t want to clean ACs later. 

Haier air conditioner goes through multiple stages of defrosting, frosting, and cold expansion. It can also strip itself of all the dirt that has entered inside. Other than that, Haier ACs have an ion sterilization technique that cleans all the residual dirt from fans and ducts.

FAQs

Question: Why does my AC make my room smell bad?

Answer: AC only makes your room smell bad if it has ventilation issues. Sometimes, a dirty evaporator coil can also be the culprit. Check the fans, coil, and ducts for mold growth. 

Question: Is bad AC smell harmful?
Answer: AC smells can be harmful depending on the type of smell. Sometimes there can be a gas leak which means the whole house can catch on fire. If you’re smelling a peculiar smell, turn off your AC and ventilate the room. 

Question: What can I put in my AC to make my house smell good?

Answer: Adding scents to the air filter will make your house smell good. You can add some drops of essential oil to the air filter every month and your house will be filled with scent in no time. 

Final Words

Preventing AC odor simply requires a routine inspection from time to time. By looking after your AC unit once in a while you can avoid all unwanted circumstances. 

However, if it seems bothersome, you can always contact House of Butterfly’s service centers on this matter. If you’ve purchased an AC from House of Butterfly, you’ll enjoy a long warranty period that comes with quality servicing.