If you turn your air conditioning system on in your home for the first time in a while, you might notice an odor. You should take note of any pungent odors you smell when you turn on your AC even if they do not linger. This is because some of the smells could be related to some serious problems that require an AC repair service. Some smells may also mean that you have existing AC issues that could impact your health and safety.

The quality of the air you breathe is important whether indoors or outdoors, and poor indoor air quality due to a faulty AC unit can cause respiratory problems. Members of your family with existing allergies or respiratory conditions may get seriously ill from breathing polluted air. The following points identify some smells you may encounter and their potential causes.

Rotten Egg or Decaying Matter

This is probably one of the most noticeable signs that something is seriously wrong within your AC system. You should not smell what resembles the smell of decaying roadkill or rotten eggs in your home at any time. However, if you smell it when you turn on your AC system, it is probably due to a dead rodent or small animal within the system. This is an AC repair that needs to be performed by a professional because an inspection will usually be needed to locate the carcass and properly dispose of it. Some portions of your AC system such as ductwork may need to get replaced depending on the location and soiled surfaces.

Burnt Odors

You might be more alarmed to smell burnt smells coming from your cooling system than your heating system. Any lingering smells from your AC system should be treated as a need for inspection. If you need a repair and ignore it, you could end up needing to replace your entire system or damage more parts than the initial cause of the smell. Burnt smells may occur if parts overheat. Some smaller parts of the system such as damaged wires and belts can create a need for immediate AC repairs, and continued AC operation could severely damage the AC system. Some newer AC systems have safety shut-offs that may prevent operation if a repair issue is detected. 

Sour and Musty Odors

These types of odors may be a sign of mold or mildew contamination. You might not have extensive microbial growth in your system. Sometimes the microbes are confined in places of the AC system such a condensate drainage tubes and condensate drain pans. However, if ignored, they can spread and may clog the system and cause water damage to homes. Routine AC maintenance can reduce the risk of damage to your AC system and the need for AC repairs.

For more information, contact an air conditioning repair service.