How To Get Rid of Bad Air Con Smells

Sometimes you may notice a terrible odour coming from your split system or ducted air conditioner. Usually, foul air con smells mean that your air conditioning unit may have a problem, and potentially be putting you and your loved ones at risk. In these cases, we recommend calling Sparc Electrical on 0404 213 806 or emailing us at info@sparc-electrical.com.au for an air con maintenance service. We provide routine and emergency electrical services to home and businesses on the northside of Brisbane and Sunshine coast 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Different Kinds of Air Con Bad Smells

There are a number of distinctive odours that your air conditioning system may emit. We’ve listed some of the more common ones below:

If you smell rotten eggs, it’s important you turn off your air conditioner right away. This odour indicates a natural gas leak and you should immediately leave your home and get contact Sparc Electrical. Do not use any open flames!

If you can smell smoke, it generally means your air conditioning unit has an electrical problem. Frequently smelling this odour may indicate the unit is overheating, may have problems with wiring or your circuit board could be experiencing issues. Don’t use your unit until Sparc Electrical can inspect it or you could be at risk of a devasting fire.

Remove Bad Smells from Your Air Conditioner

There are a number of things you can do to reduce the smelliness of your air conditioning unit. However, Sparc Electrical suggest that you do attempt to solve the issues on your own as this may void your system’s warranty or even damage your air conditioning unit permanently. That said, you can undertake some basic maintenance on your system to increase its lifespan and performance. If you complete the following steps and your air conditioner is still smelly, we suggest you book an electrical service with Sparc Electrical today.

1. Switch Off Your Air Con System

First things first, make sure you turn off your air conditioner’s power before starting to clean it. This will help prevent electrocution.

2. Make Sure You Change Your Air Filters

To ensure the highest quality clean air, you should change the filters in your unit regularly. This is especially important for families that have pets or experience a lot of dust around their home. If you replace the filters every few months, this can improve your system’s longevity as well as reducing any unpleasant smells. If you need a hand with this, please contact Sparc Electrical.

3. Give Your Existing Air Filters

Noting the above, sometimes your air con filters won’t require changing. However, they may really be in need of a clean badly! For split systems AC, cleaning the filter is simple. Just pull on the front of your unit and gently remove the filter. As a handy hint, Sparc Electrical suggest you take a photo prior to taking the filter out as it will help you remember how to put it back in. For a seriously dirty filter, rinse the dirt out in normal tap water then completely dry before replacing.

4. Remove Built-Up Grime From Air Vents

Before doing this, ensure your aircon’s power is switched off. Then fill up a bucket with warm soapy and wipe down the air vents with a damp cloth. Dirt and moisture in vents is a common cause of foul smells and this should be done at least annually to keep your unit odour-free.

5. Clean Your Drip Tray

Sludge and other muck can build up in your drip tray on the inside of your unit. You’ll also need to wipe the excess water from the condensate line to reduce bad odours.

Call Sparc Electrical For Air Con Servicing

When you have bad smells, you need an AC maintenance expert to help you. After trying the above steps with no solution, the best thing to do is to call in Sparc’s professional air conditioning technicians. Our Master Electricians are ARC Tick Certified with many years experience and are able to quickly diagnose the issue and undertake repairs.

The friendly electricians at Sparc Electrical can help with all your AC maintenance needs including getting rid of foul smells, troubleshooting weird noises and ensuing your unit is performing at its peak.

Some of the many air conditioning services offered by Sparcs AC technicians include

Please contact Sparc Electrical on 0404 213 806 or email info@parc-electrical.com.au to book in an air conditioning installation or repair service.