Is your air conditioner beginning to behave closer to a chimney than an AC? Billowing and blowing smoke out of its vents? Seemingly polluting the same air that it’s meant to control and regulate?
Ask yourself, “Why is my AC blowing smoke?”
A smoking AC is a serious red flag that you don’t want to ignore. Even if your HVAC system’s other units are performing at their best, problems with one unit can affect the entire system. You especially won’t want to ignore it if it’s coupled with a strange smell.
Odorless white smoke usually indicates a problem with the AC’s condenser. However, foul-smelling smoke is often a clear sign of dangerous electrical systems in the unit. If you notice that smell, you should shut off your whole system and connect with a local AC repair company in Bainbridge, GA.
We know AC smoke can be a scary sight, but we’d like to assure Georgians not to panic! Professionals can help you with diagnosing AC smoke issues. If you notice any of the following signs and symptoms, professionals can also help you promptly arrive at AC smoke problem solutions.
AC Emitting Smoke Causes: The Reasons for AC Blowing Smoke
Air conditioners can experience a wide range of malfunctions. It’s entirely possible that multiple reasons could be exacerbating the issue. Therefore, there’s no one universal answer to that pressing question you might be asking: “Why is my AC blowing smoke?”
Depending on the type of unit you have, your air conditioner’s functional lifespan could be anywhere between 10 to 25 years. If your AC is nearing the end of its lifespan, then that could exacerbate the risk of issues like your AC blowing smoke.
Whether you have an older or newer unit, you might notice the following signs and symptoms. The following six signs and reasons could indicate why your AC is emitting smoke. Conversely, these specific problems could also inform the best solutions to remedy your unit’s issues.
1. Too Much Cool, Dry Air Is Colliding With Warm Air
Your AC’s express purpose is fairly self-explanatory: conditioning hot and cold air to achieve a balanced indoor air temperature. Is your AC failing to condition your indoor air to a place of stability? If so, that could indicate an imbalance of hot and cool air in the unit, causing an uneven temperature in your house.
When hot, humid air makes direct contact with cool, dry air, this will naturally cause condensation. This condensation could appear to look like white fog or smoke. Regarding this condensate smoke from the air conditioner, troubleshooting could entail:
- Routinely cleaning or replacing your air filters
- Setting your air conditioner on high, to speed up cooling
- Arranging for annual air conditioner maintenance inspections
All of the above will hopefully offset these issues and extend your AC’s viable lifespan.
2. Your Unit Is Overheating or Experiencing Electrical Issues
White smoke with a foul smell will raise more serious red flags than condensation smoke. Overheating can jeopardize the performance of your HVAC system, as well as the overall health and safety of your home. There are three common culprits for overheating:
- Electrical issues and faulty wiring
- A backed-up HVAC air filter
- Clogged vents in your unit
If you’re unsure which components are causing the overheating, consider calling a professional. They can help you more precisely pinpoint the problem and take the stressful guesswork out of the process. From there, you can determine whether it’d be better to repair or replace those components.
But if you’re certain that it’s a result of a faulty electrical system, shut it off immediately. Leave it off until a technician can attend to it.
3. The Air Conditioner’s Filters or Vents Are Too Clogged
It’s recommended to service your AC with maintenance at least once a year. This annual maintenance should include cleaning or swapping out your air conditioner’s filters. To reiterate the above, failure to do so could exacerbate the risk of overheating and subsequent performance issues.
4. Your Air Conditioning Unit Has a Clogged Drain Hole
This component is more commonly found on older air conditioners than on newer units. The condensate drain line helps clear water from the cooling unit as the evaporator coil operates. Unfortunately, this line can clog with time, building up water in the AC.
If this happens, you might see white condensation fog. The best way to prevent this clogging, ultimately, is by diligently staying on top of annual tune-ups and maintenance.
5. Condensation Is Building Up in the Heater Box
Like your cooling box and drain line, your heater box could be another source of condensation smoke. It will similarly stem from a clogged drain, but the smoke itself could be steaming from the vents.
6. Your AC Fan’s Motor Is Burning Out
All components in your air conditioning system are vulnerable to degrading over time. One critical component that you won’t want to neglect is your fan. If it’s producing foul-smelling smoke, shut off your air conditioner right away.
This smoke could be toxic, and like electrical issues, indicative of fire hazard risks. This danger can be most effectively dealt with via professional assistance. Diagnosing AC smoke issues can be a challenge, but trained technicians can help take the stress out of diagnosing and treating the issue.
Still Got Smoke Coming From AC Unit? Count On Cooper’s Plumbing & Air
Noticing one or more of the six aforementioned signs? Still can’t find a clear answer to the question, “Why is my AC blowing smoke?” or experiencing other issues, like an uneven temperature in the house? Since 1997, we’ve been proud to help Georgia residents find clarity about their HVAC problems.
If you need help finding some clarity through the fog,especially if you’re afraid of possible ac explosion or want to know what causes an ac to go out, we can lead the way. We’re for residents in Bainbridge and greater Georgia, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year! To connect with Cooper’s Plumbing & Air, reach a member of our team by calling 866-464-7132!