What Does It Mean When Your Lawton, OK Home’s HVAC Smells?

Your Guide To HVAC Smells And What They Mean

Nothing is worse than walking into your Lawton, OK, home to find a horrible smell coming from your HVAC. Whether it’s in the heat of summer or the dead of winter, it can be a serious problem. Certain smells indicate specific issues that need to be dealt with immediately to preserve your health and safety. These are the common causes of HVAC smells.

1. Car Exhaust

You might be wondering why does my HVAC smell like car exhaust? It can create an odor reminiscent of car exhaust fumes when your HVAC leaks fluids. Typically this type of smell indicates that you have a leak in your refrigerant line, which is something that will need to be immediately checked by a reliable technician for efficient AC repair.

A leak in your refrigerant line can lead to a severely downgraded performance in your HVAC. Additionally, chemicals leaking can be hazardous to you and the environment.

2. Rotten Eggs

If you smell rotten eggs or sulfur in your home, it’s most commonly attributed to a natural gas leak and should be taken very seriously. You’ll need to open your windows, shut off the natural gas source, and call the gas company and an HVAC specialist.

A pest problem, a dead animal in the attic, or your ventilation system could also be the source of the smell. You’ll need a pest control service if this is the case. They’ll remove the live pests as well as the dead ones.

3. Chemical Odors

Several different things can cause chemical odors to come from your HVAC. These are the most common causes:

• The AC is malfunctioning: If you smell chemicals like formaldehyde or paint thinner, you need to have a professional HVAC technician inspect your unit. Because of the multitude of chemicals used within an HVAC, it can produce a variety of smells when it malfunctions.
• You have a Freon leak: The Freon within the HVAC system travels in a closed circuit of copper coils and lines, which can crack and leak. You’ll notice Freon’s distinctive sweet smell, similar to your car’s coolant.
• You recently had repair work completed: If you’ve recently had your ductwork repaired, this could account for any chemical smell coming from your HVAC. The glue used for installation and repairs gives off a heavy chemical odor while drying.
• There are open chemical containers near your ductwork: Improperly sealed and stored chemicals can leak, allowing fumes to spread into nearby ductwork. While this isn’t an actual HVAC problem, it’s still a potential health hazard that an expert must fix.

4. Electrical Odors

Electrical smells emanating from your HVAC could indicate mechanical trouble with the fan, compressor, wiring, or another electrical component. These odors can smell like burning or overheating.

If you have just turned your unit on for the first time in a while, especially in the winter, it is not uncommon for a slight odor as the dust that has collected on it burns off. It may do this for the first few cycles. However, if it continues beyond this, you will need to consult with a professional for quality heating repair.

5. Like electrical odors, a gunpowder smell can indicate a damaged fan or circuit board. If you believe you smell this odor, you should immediately power off your HVAC and call for a checkup.

5. Moldy, Musty Smells

When water builds up in the drain pan, drip lines, or ductwork of your HVAC, mold, and mildew aren’t far behind. This situation requires a professional to locate the mold buildup and deep clean it. If you have a leak that’s causing the water buildup, they’ll be able to find it during the cleaning process.

Do You Need Your Lawton, OK Home’s HVAC Repaired?
Call The Experts Who Will Always Be There For You

When your home’s HVAC is acting up, you want fast, reliable HVAC repair in Lawton, OK, so don’t call just anyone.

Here at Robinson Air, we uphold our 2 AM Standard daily – whenever you call us, we’ll answer the phone. We’ll schedule your service quickly so you can sit back and enjoy the perfect indoor temperature.

Call us today at (580) 699-5760 to schedule your service.