A burning smell from AC or other hard-working appliances is never a good sign. They’re usually an indication of poor maintenance and a resulting increase in operational stress. Burnt odors can also signal serious functional problems. If the air conditioner in your Newburgh, IN home smells burnt, the following are several possible reasons why.
Built-Up Debris
The most common cause of burning odors in cooling systems is built-up debris. You’re most likely to smell burnt, dusty odors when turning your AC on for the first time of the cooling season. Your air conditioner could have heavy coatings of particulate matter on its evaporator and condenser coils, or on other sensitive, interior components. This type of air conditioner burning smell is usually harmless and goes away after a few cycles.
Burnt odors caused by accumulations of dust, dirt, dander, and other particulate matter should rapidly dissipate as these materials burn off. If your AC still emits burnt, dusty odors after several cooling cycles, give us a call. You can avoid these odors and ensure safe and efficient AC operation by scheduling pre-season air conditioning maintenance.
Poor Airflow
Whenever you have concerns about how your air conditioner smells, sounds, or performs, the first thing to check is your HVAC air filter. Dirty air filters decrease airflow throughout cooling systems. Air conditioners have to work harder to draw air through blocked filter mesh. The resulting strain could cause their blower motors to overheat. Swapping your air filter out will keep the issue from escalating. Unusual HVAC smells, especially burning odors, should always be checked quickly.
Check for Other Airflow Obstructions
Anything that compromises airflow places undue stress on blower motors. If your HVAC air filter is clean, check for adequate clearance at the outdoor condenser unit. This unit should always have a minimum clearance of 24 inches on all sides. Cut back all grass, brush, trees, and other foliage that’s encroaching on your AC condenser.
You can also check the positions of all air vents throughout your home. Closed air vents impact airflow by increasing static pressure within HVAC air ducts.
When inspecting your HVAC air vents and opening closed vents, look for built-up debris on or behind them. You might find the same lint-like matter that accumulates on your HVAC air filter. This can also inhibit airflow. Wipe dirty air vent covers clean with a soft, damp cloth. If necessary, unscrew your vent covers and gently vacuum behind them. If this doesn’t do the trick, consider scheduling professional HVAC air duct cleaning.
Overheated Fan Motors
Your air conditioner has two blower motors: one in its condenser and another in the indoor air handler. Poor airflow due to a dirty air filter, closed air vents, or built-up debris aren’t the only things that can cause the fan motors in your air conditioner to overheat.
During professional AC maintenance, our HVAC technicians look for bent fan blades, loose components, and worn parts. We also lubricate moving parts to limit friction and prevent overheating. When you skip pre-season AC maintenance, you create the risk of metal-on-metal contact, accelerated blower fan wear, and overheating.
If your AC has a bent fan blade that’s jammed and can no longer rotate properly, the fan motor will work overtime and eventually overheat. This may be the case if your air conditioner turns on, runs for several minutes, and then rapidly turns itself off.
When overheating, air conditioners shut themselves down to prevent fan motors from burning out completely. Continuing to run your air conditioner rather than scheduling air conditioning service could cause its blower motor to fail.
Electrical Issues
Burnt AC odors due to poor maintenance often have a dry, dusty smell. If you notice an AC electrical smell that’s sharp, slightly sweet, or like melting plastic, there may be an electrical problem. Your AC could have worn electrical contactors, a faulty electrical circuit, or damaged wiring.
Unchecked maintenance issues that cause overheating can melt the plastic coatings on electrical wires. Some electrical components, such as run and start capacitors and dual capacitors, have shorter lifespans than air conditioners themselves. Others can fall prey to pest damage.
No matter what their cause, it’s never safe to troubleshoot or repair electrical AC issues on your own. DIY electrical repairs pose the risk of electric shock and potentially fatal electrocution. If ignored, electrical problems could lead to fast-spreading electrical fires. To protect your health, your home, and the lifespan of your AC, schedule emergency AC repair services instead.
Get Reliable Help
As a fourth-generation family-owned and operated company, we proudly serve Newburgh and the surrounding cities. We offer top-notch AC maintenance, repair, and replacement services. We’re also the company to call for 24/7 emergency air conditioning service. If your AC smells like burning, give A+ Derr a call without delay!
