Office Air Conditioning Smells

An office air conditioning system is essential these days and is in constant use especially during times of very warm weather. Air conditioning leads to improved productivity from office workers and helps to keep the air circulating and filtered, free from dust and other air pollutants. There may be a time when your office air conditioning smells with the air coming through with a foul odour or unpleasant aroma. The smell may be caused by many original sources and air conditioning smells can be caused by something as simple as a dirty unit or may be the smell from the remains of an unfortunate small mammal or bird that has become stuck somewhere in the ducting or unit.

Fortunately, most AC systems are in the safe hands of air conditioning engineers who maintain the systems before they start to smell, but if you are experiencing any air con variants smell wise, we can help you to trace the problem find the solution and fix it for you. There are some things that you can do to check where the smell is coming from but this will not replace any kind of professional analysis and investigation of where and how the smell is caused.

Office air conditioning smells may indicate there is a risk to health so any odour however faint should always be investigated by professional AC engineers. Poor air quality leads to some quite severe health symptoms so air conditioning smells should always be taken seriously.

Some Causes of Office Air Conditioning Smells

Mould

Moisture is always present in office air conditioning systems. An excess of moisture may cause mould spores to multiply within the air conditioning system and grow in colonies throughout the unit and ducting. The smell of mould is often the first sign there is a hazard in the ac system and it is quite likely the mould spores will have been present in the air within the office building. As can be clearly understood, mould spores in the atmosphere can cause respiratory ailments as the spores are inhaled. The smell from a mouldy air conditioning system is very obvious. The mould growth is usually on the ac coils and the lining as this is where most dust collects. The dust is a good nutrient for mould spores so they proliferate easily.

Small Mammals and Birds

Sometimes office air conditioning ducts are compromised by the presence of a small creature such as a bird, squirrel, mouse, rat or other creature. While air con systems are designed to be rodent and animal proof, sometimes a creature can become trapped within ducting and unable to get out again. As there is no food source for the animals, they perish and then when they start to decompose, an unforgettable foul stench begins to be emitted from the air conditioning vents sometimes making it impossible to stay in the building. Swift removal of the animal carcass is paramount although the odour can linger on for a while. Professional cleaning will soon solve this particularly unpleasant smell.

Coolant Leak

From time to time, office air conditioning may malfunction that can result in coolant leaking. Coolant has a distinctive smell, usually subtle but unpleasantly musty. Some coolants are dangerous when leaking although some older types of coolant gases such as Freon are not commonly used anymore. Nevertheless, exposure to coolant gases can cause health issues such as irregular heartbeat in people with cardiac problems. The first signs of coolant leakage should be addressed immediately because of these risks to office workers.

Standing Water and Other Debris

Plant vegetation and other debris can all rot down within the air conditioning unit leading to odour which while unpleasant is not as hazardous as some smells. Standing water accumulated in your office air conditioning can also cause smells and these issues may be rectified by user maintenance but should still be assessed by professional air conditioning engineers in order to ensure there are no further hazards involved.

Our accredited engineers will tackle the job of odour removal if it is a problem for you and will also provide special deodoriser treatments during standard maintenance as well as supplying them after a troubleshooting visit when you are experiencing foul smells.

Finally, check that your office air conditioning system is the correct size for the room it is servicing. The wrong size unit can lead to the system being improperly operated for example i.e. being run constantly on a “low” setting which does not allow enough evaporation which can leave standing water in the system to cause smells.