Medium — Technician inspection recommended

Bad smell from AC

A musty smell usually means bacteria on the evaporator. A burnt smell = electrical problem, act now. Rotten-egg smell = a dead pest or drain issue. Never ignore an AC smell — especially burnt.

Symptoms That Indicate Bad smell from AC

See if any of these signs match your device — each one increases the likelihood of this fault.

Cleaning and sanitising an AC evaporator to remove bad smells
Cleaning and sanitising an AC evaporator to remove bad smells

Technical Causes

These are the causes we encounter while repairing Bad smell from AC — ranked from most to least common.

  1. 01

    Bacteria and mold on the evaporator from humidity + dust = musty smell

  2. 02

    Overheated wire or motor = burnt plastic odor (fire risk)

  3. 03

    Dead small animal inside the outdoor unit or ductwork

  4. 04

    Old refrigerant leak (R-22) with sulfur content

  5. 05

    Stagnant water sitting in the drain pan

When to Stop and Call a Technician Immediately

Any of the following = a danger signal — call now and don't try to fix it yourself.

Call now — 16062

This Fault Is Common In These Air Conditioners Types

Other Air Conditioners Faults

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