Is there a poop-like smell in your office or house that seems to get worse when the air conditioner is on? While you may want to get to the stench and remove it, you may not realize that the foul smell in your building can also be a sign of severe health risks. Here’s some useful information about odors that can come from the air vents of your air conditioner.
It Smells Like Dirty Socks or Stinking Feet
Dirty evaporator coils, clogged condensation pans, and standing water can cause the smell of dirty socks or smelly feet. The solution is professional cleaning.
Sulfur (Smell of Rotten Egg)
Always pay attention to the smell of rotten eggs in your home or office, it may be the smell of gas leakage! Although natural gas is odorless, manufacturers must add mercaptan-based chemicals to bring in this specific smell of rotten gas. Another sign of gas leakage is a stain of grass or shrubs that has become light brown/orange.
IMPORTANT: If you smell rotten eggs coming out of the vents:
-
Open as many doors and windows as possible.
-
Do not use matches, lighters, or other electrical objects.
-
Do not turn on the gas. It’s best to ask the gas company to turn on the gas for you.
-
If there is an open flame such as candles, put them out.
-
Turn off the gas supply to the meter. If you cannot turn off the gas at home, ask the gas company to do it for you.
-
Get in touch with the gas company.
-
Evacuate the building.
Fungus, Mold, and Mildew
Excess moisture in the HVAC system can lead to mold and fungus in the pipes. It’s recommended to eliminate all water leaks, improve drainage, adjust the HVAC system every six months, and change the HVAC filters frequently to prevent mold and moisture problems. We also advise you to cover any exposed earth in your basement or crawlspace.
Using a full-fledged home air dryer is the most effective way to protect your property and avoid mold in your home and HVAC system. The dehumidifier is directly plugged into your HVAC system and automatically extracts moisture and condensation from the air.
Cigarette Smoke
Odors may also accumulate in the filter and evaporation coil if someone smoked at home. When you turn on the air conditioner, you will feel a nasty smell of cigarette smoke. Replace the filter, professionally adjust and clean it, and smoke only outside.
Sewers
The presence of dry plumbing traps (P-traps) in your house can lead to sewage gas. Consequently, always check that running water from all sinks (approximately every month) fills the P-trap and creates a seal against sewer odors.
If the problem does not come from your dry P-traps, then you may have a clogged sewer pipe or a broken ventilation pipe. Sewage gases can be dangerous. Contact a professional plumber or HVAC technician immediately.
A Burning Smell
If you smell like something’s burning, it could be an overheated engine, a wiring problem, or some other mechanical problem. This is no joke and should be tackled quickly – disconnect your AC from the fuse box immediately.
Sometimes the smell can be more like gunpowder, indicating a short circuit in an AC circuit or a fan motor. If the smell persists, evacuate the house and contact the fire department without losing time! Sometimes the smell of a fish egg or rotten egg may be emitted when plastic components melt. Disconnect the fuse box circuits, evacuate the house, and contact the fire department.
The Smell of Rotten Debris
If an insect has died in your ventilation system or ducts, the smell quickly becomes impossible to ignore. The sooner decay is detected, the better. First, turn off the air conditioning system. Then open a few doors and windows for ventilation. Immediately contact a professional HVAC or pest control company.
Covering the Odors Is a Bad Idea
Covering up the smell with sprays, aromatic candles, and so on will only worsen the air quality. Save yourself from eye and skin irritations, nausea, headaches, difficulty breathing, sleep problems, and many other health problems by organizing a professional examination.