Have a licensed technician inspect your HVAC system yearly to prevent problems that cause odor. Central air conditioning provides a cool breeze on hot summer days, but when that breeze carries the smell of sewage, it’s not very refreshing. Dirty filters or coils can cause a mold or mildew smell when you turn on your air conditioning, but a rotten or sewage-like smell is usually caused by a dead animal or actual sewage. Dead Animals Dead animals, such as rats, birds and squirrels, in your HVAC ducts can cause a rotten smell to enter your home whenever the central air is turned on. Small animals may climb inside air ducts in the winter months if they’re sick or injured. Once inside, they may die, and their decomposing bodies create a rotten, sewage-like smell. A single decomposing mouse can cause an intense odor that permeates your entire home. If this has happened, you’ll need to have the air ducts professionally cleaned by a licenced HVAC technician. Methane Gas A sewage odor that brings to mind rotten eggs in your central air could mean serious problems with your HVAC system.

The odor may be emanating from backed up sewage from a ruptured line or sewer vent pipe near your air duct system. If the methane gases from the sewage leak into the duct work, a rotten egg odor can permeate your home when you turn on your air conditioner. Methane gases are dangerous, so contact a plumber to inspect the plumbing. central air conditioner repair london ontarioIf the pipes are not the issue, contact a licensed technician to inspect your HVAC system. tappan ac unitReferences Gilson: Why Does My Air Conditioning Unit Smell Bad?wholesale ac units jacksonville flProfessional Wildlife Removal: Dead Animal Removal and Odor ControlAsk the Builder: Sewer Gas Smell Photo Credits Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images Suggest a Correction

How to find and fix the source of sulphur odors and smells in buildings: This article and its companions discusse the common sources of rotten egg odors, sulphur odors or sewer gas smells in buildings and traces them to their possible cause. Examples of sources of sulfur smells in or around buildings include Chinese drywall outgassing, dangerous sewer gas leaks, plumbing vent defects, sulfur in drinking water, water heater bacteria, and more. We describe safety, explosion, and bacterial hazards associated with sulphur gases and sewer gases in buildings. Our page top photo shows a subtle clue that can explain a sulphur odor in buildings: discolored copper piping on the air conditioner cooling coil caused by outgassing from Chinese drywall. This article series about building odors discusses the diagnosis and cure of odors from a variety of sources including animals including pets, dogs, cats, or unwanted animals or dead animals, formaldehyde odors in buildings from building products or furnishings, plumbing drains, plastic or vinyl odors from building products, flue gases, oil tanks or oil spills, pesticides,

septic odors, sewer gases, and even abandoned chemicals at properties. The page top photo of blackened corrosion on an air conditioner cooling coil is from the U.S. CPSC warning to fire safety professionals. Sulphur odors in buildings are described also as rotten egg smells or even flatulence smells that generally are associated with the presence of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas. To track down and cure the source of such odors review the list below. Information about the gas itself and links to hydrogen sulfide exposure limits and health effects are given separately at HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS. In sum, before blaming drywall for building odors, be sure that the smells are not from another detectable source such as sewer gases or a failing hot water tank anode - Continue reading at WATER ODOR DIAGNOSIS - SULPHUR or select a topic from the More Reading links or topic ARTICLE INDEX shown below. Or see SULPHUR ODOR REMOVAL in WATERWhen you turn on your air conditioner for the first time, you expect to be greeted by nice, cool air.

However, if the air coming from your AC vent is smelly, you might have a serious problem on your hands. Some smells are merely irritating while others are hazardous. Learn to tell the difference and take the appropriate step to eliminate the odor.Since your air conditioner dehumidifies the air as it cools, it’s no surprise that mildew is the most common odor to come from an AC vent. If excess water collected from the air isn’t drained away properly, the lingering moisture can allow mold and mildew to grow. Even a dirty filter can harbor mold growth, so try replacing the filter first. If the odor remains, call a heating and cooling professional to clean your air conditioner.Stagnant water collected in an AC may cause the smell of stinky feet to come from air vents. A quick cleaning and repair to help future water drain properly should remedy the problem.If an injured bird or sick rodent found its way into your air ducts during the winter, it may have died there and begun decomposing, producing a rotten egg smell.

It’s a gross thought, but not particularly dangerous. However, you’ll still surely want to have a heating and cooling technician remove the animal without delay.If you or someone in your home smokes, the fumes can be pulled into the condenser coil. The odor permeates the coil and blasts the smell of old cigarettes into your home every time you run the air conditioner. Cleaning the coil can fix the problem.As opposed to old cigarettes, an active burning odor could indicate a mechanical problem with the AC fan or compressor. Turn off the air conditioner and check if you notice the burning odor near the equipment itself. If so, call an HVAC technician right away to avoid a fire.The smell of raw sewage coming from an AC vent is never a good sign. It usually indicates a backed up sewer line or ruptured sewer vent pipe somewhere near the ductwork. All it takes is a bit of methane from the backup to fill your house with the nasty smell. Methane is a dangerous gas, so call a plumber or HVAC professional without delay.

Natural gas by itself is odorless, but an added rotten egg smell helps homeowners detect gas leaks. If this odor is coming from an AC vent, you could have a leak somewhere near your air ducts. Get out of the house immediately and call your gas company first, and then an HVAC contractor.The smell after firing an old gun is very distinctive. A similar smell may come from an AC vent if a circuit board or fan motor in your air conditioner shorts out. Call an HVAC technician to take a look before you run the AC again.While air conditioners are powered by electricity, not gas, it’s still possible to smell exhaust fumes if engine fluids leak out. To prevent a dangerous situation from developing, have a professional sort out the problem.If you notice any of these smells coming from an AC vent, or if you have other heating and cooling questions, please contact Aire Serv® today.How Heavy Rains Can Affect Your Air ConditionerWhat Is Duct Work and What Can Go Wrong?Don’t Be Fooled by these AC Maintenance Myths