There’s nothing better than walking into a cool, air-conditioned room on a hot Singapore day. But what happens when instead of fresh air, you’re hit with a foul, unpleasant smell?
A smelly aircon isn’t just unpleasant; it’s your system’s way of telling you that something is wrong. That odour could be a sign of anything from simple dust buildup to a serious issue that could affect your health or the safety of your home.
Ignoring the smell won’t make it go away. In fact, you just get used to it while still breathing in whatever is causing it. At Vedha Aircon, we’ve handled every type of aircon smell imaginable. Here’s a guide to the most common odours and what they might mean.
The Most Common Smell: Musty, Like “Dirty Socks” or an Old Towel
This is the smell we get asked about the most. You turn on the aircon, and your room fills with a damp, musty odour, sometimes described as “dirty sock syndrome.”
- What’s the cause? This smell is almost always caused by mold and mildew. Your aircon’s main job, besides cooling, is to remove moisture from the air. This water collects in a drain pan and flows out through a pipe. If that drain pipe gets clogged, water sits inside your unit, creating the perfect dark, damp environment for mold and fungus to grow. The smell can also come from mold growing on the evaporator coils or a very dirty air filter.
- Is it dangerous? Yes. Breathing in mold spores can trigger allergies and cause respiratory issues like coughing, especially for those with asthma.
- What should be done? The unit needs a thorough cleaning. The drain pan and pipe need to be cleared and flushed, and the evaporator coils and blower wheel often require a professional chemical cleaning to kill the mold at its source.
The “Burning” or “Gunpowder” Smell
This smell is alarming, and it should be. It usually points to an electrical problem.
- What’s the cause? A burning smell often means an electrical component inside your aircon, like the fan motor or a circuit board, has shorted out and is overheating or burning. It could be a serious fire hazard.
- What should be done? This is an emergency. Immediately turn off the aircon at the main power switch and do not use it again. Call a professional technician right away to diagnose and repair the electrical fault.
The “Rotten Egg” or “Sulphur” Smell
This is another odour that requires immediate attention. It can point to two very different, but equally serious, problems.
- What’s the cause?
- A Gas Leak: The gas used in Singapore homes (natural gas) is odourless, but a chemical called Methyl Mercaptan is added to it, which gives it that distinct rotten egg or skunk-like smell. If this gas is leaking somewhere in your home, your aircon’s return vent can suck it in and circulate it, making you think the smell is from the aircon itself. This is extremely dangerous.
- A Dead Animal: Unfortunately, small animals like lizards, birds, or rodents can sometimes get into the air ducts or the outdoor unit and get trapped. The foul smell is from the decomposition, and the aircon spreads it through your home.
- What should be done? If you suspect a gas leak, shut off your gas supply immediately, open windows for ventilation, and call your gas provider. If you think it’s a dead animal, a professional will need to locate and remove it, and then clean and disinfect the area.
The “Chemical” or “Sweet” Smell
A sweet, chemical-like smell, sometimes compared to car coolant or chloroform, usually points to one thing.
- What’s the cause? This odour almost always indicates a refrigerant (gas) leak from your aircon. While a small leak isn’t immediately toxic, inhaling these chemicals is not healthy, and it means your aircon is losing its ability to cool.
- What should be done? You need a certified technician to find the leak, repair it, and then safely recharge the system with the correct amount of refrigerant. This is not a DIY job.
How Vedha Aircon Clears the Air
You shouldn’t have to live with a smelly aircon. At Vedha, our technicians are trained to identify the source of bad odours and eliminate them safely.
- We don’t just mask the smell, we remove the cause. We offer comprehensive chemical overhaul services that deep clean your unit, removing mold and grime from the coils, blower wheel, and drain pan.
- We diagnose technical problems. We can safely trace electrical faults that cause burning smells and use professional equipment to detect and repair refrigerant leaks.
- We give honest advice. We’ll show you exactly what’s causing the smell and explain the best way to fix it for good.
A fresh, clean-smelling home starts with a clean aircon. Don’t let foul odours ruin your comfort or compromise your health.
If you’re tired of holding your nose every time the aircon turns on, call the experts at Vedha Construction at 96540044 or send us an email to schedule a service.
Vedha Aircon Cleaning Service, Fair Prices, No Fuss.
We specialize in Aircon installation, repair, and service. We have all type & model of recon compressor, full set & fancoil. Our technicians are highly proficient in their respective field and repairs and fixes aircon of various brands.
