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Why Is Your Air Conditioner Smelling Like Burning Plastic

By Aztil –

Smells of burning plastic coming from the air conditioner are not unheard of. When something works continuously for hours at end, it’s normal for them to suffer wear and tear. It is quite a common occurrence and can be easily remedied. So if your air conditioner smells like burning plastic, this post is just for you. But before we begin with the reasons lets understand a few basics.

What Does Burning Plastic Smell Like

Burning plastic smell is very distinctive. Unlike the smell of mold and mildew, which smells like dirty socks, the burning plastic smell is pungent and unpleasing. Depending on the intensity of the heat, the smell can be light or strong and hard to ignore. No matter what, whenever you notice this smell take immediate action.

Is Burning Plastic Smell Dangerous For Health?

When plastics burn, they release harmful chemicals into the air. These chemicals can cause difficulty in breathing and other respiratory disorders. Additionally, some of them are potentially carcinogenic. So, Yes, the burning plastic smell is dangerous for health.

Can The Burning Plastic Smell Be Ignored If Its Light

Even if the burning plastic smell is not very strong, it is in your best interests to not ignore it. Not only is it hazardous to health, but it is also an indication of a potential fire hazard. It should be dealt with immediately without any delays.

Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Smells Like Burning Plastic

The most likely reasons why your air conditioner smells like burning plastic are –

1.Dust Burning Off – In most parts of Florida, there is no need to switch on the “Heating Mode” of AC. During a cold front, when suddenly the need arises, you may observe a burning smell. This smell originates because the AC is burning off the accumulated dust. In a few minutes, this smell will go away on its own. If this smell is coming in the “Cooling Mode”, you need to immediately shut down the AC. 

 2. Broken Capacitor – A capacitor is that part of the AC which helps the motor run. If for some reason, like a power surge or a short circuit, the capacitor spoils it puts pressure on the motor causing it to overheat. When the motor overheats, it gives off a burning plastic smell due to proximity to other plastic components.

3. Overheating Motor – The fan that throws hot and cold air throughout your home needs a motor to work. The bearings of this motor get worn out due to extended use and overheat the motor producing burning plastic smell. This is a normal occurrence and nothing to be alarmed about. Lubricating the bearings of the motor will fix the issue. If you are comfortable handling this on your own, you can do it yourself. Else, ask an HVAC technician to come and do the needful. 

4. Tear Or Break In Fan Belt – Many air conditioners have a fan which is driven by a rubber belt. Often due to continuous use and temperature variations, the belt develops tears or breaks completely. In either case, it causes overheating and produces an unpleasant odor. If this is the case, turn off your AC and call an HVAC technician to replace the belt. This job is a little technical as the belt has to be adequately tight, so we recommend professional help. 

5. Electrical Fault – An electrical problem may also result in your air conditioner smelling like burning plastic. Usually, there is a plastic coating on wires. In case of an electrical problem, this plastic covering melts and produces the foul odor. To figure out the problem, all the circuits in the AC need to be checked. This job is best performed by a trained repair technician who deals in air conditioners.

 6. Clogged Filters – A dirty air filter impedes the free flow of air into your air conditioner, thereby putting unnecessary stress on the mechanism. This strain is especially borne by the motors, causing them to overheat and producing the burning plastic odor. Cleaning the air filters at regular intervals will prevent this from occurring.

7. Recirculating Fire Smell – A very important aspect of an air conditioner is that it recirculates air. It picks up air from within the house and recirculates it back into the house. The possibility is quite strong that there is a fire somewhere in the house and your AC has picked up that smell. If that be the case, look for smoke or the actual fire. If its nothing big and you can put it out yourself, do the needful. Else immediately vacate the home and call the fire station or 911.

How To Prevent AC From Smelling Like Burning Plastic

Time and again, stress has been put on the importance of regular AC maintenance . Your air conditioner smells like burning plastic; the chances are that you skipped on maintenance. As a result, your system was neither properly cleaned nor checked for loose wire connections and other minor problems which get covered under maintenance.

Our Point Of View

We are of the opinion; one should never take undue chances. The smell of burning plastic indicates towards the fact the something is heating beyond an acceptable level. It could either cause a fire or spoil an important component of your AC. The moment you notice this smell, switch off your AC and ask an AC technician to come and thoroughly check out your air conditioner.

Closing Thoughts

Your AC is but a machine which consists of many parts. Due to constant running, one or more parts may suffer damage. This damage usually will come to the forefront in the form of some abnormality. It could be an abnormal smell, a decline in efficiency, or a tripping circuit. It may not necessarily indicate towards a big problem buy leaving things unattended could culminate to it. Regular maintenance of your AC along with prompt addressal of issues will go a long way in increasing its lifespan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Inside the AC is a fan whose task is to circulate the air. With age or due to a lack of maintenance, its bearings wear out, causing the motor of the fan to overheat. When that happens, you will get an odor similar to the smell of something burning.

The burning smell is an indication that some component in the AC is overheating. The first thing you should do is shut down the AC immediately. Then, call a professional HVAC technician to find out the exact cause of the problem and resolve it. There is no DIY solution to tackle the burning smell.

The burning plastic smell is an indication of an electrical fire. If your AC gives out such a smell, shut it down immediately and unplug it. Next, call your HVAC technician. Do not start the AC until and unless you get a go-ahead from the technician.

In an HVAC system, a burning plastic smell indicates burning wires or the overheating and scorching of the casing around a component. It is a clear indication of a hazard or electrical fire. Inhaling it is damaging for the lungs and the respiratory system as it may contain toxic carcinogens.

When plastic burns, it releases dangerous toxins. The awful smell that emanates is an indication of it. Breathing the air containing these toxins increases the chances of contracting respiratory illness and cancer. It may even cause congenital disabilities if inhaled by pregnant women.

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Ricardo did an amazing job servicing our dryer and showing me how to keep it clean. He was efficient and courteous.
Response from the owner: Hi Richard, thank you so much for your kind words about Ricardo! We are so glad that he was able to provide you with excellent service and helpful tips. We appreciate your feedback.
Ricardo cleaned our air ducts today and did a great job! He was professional, kind, and extremely thorough. He went above and beyond any other tech who has done any work in our home by going the extra mile…in a nutshell he treated my home like it was his own, which I could tell from the minute he walked through the door. He is a true professional, and it was obvious that not only is he knowledgeable and skilled, but he truly takes pride in what he does, which is a rare thing to find. I highly recommend him, and I can only hope that he is the tech who shows up whenever I call Aztil for work to be done!!
I scheduled an appointment for yesterday for AC maintenance for a newly purchased property. As it turns out, a new AC was recommended because of mold found inside the old unit. Aztil was able to schedule my new AC installation right away for today. Iker & Inder were professional, efficient, friendly, & very knowledgeable. I know I will be signing up for Aztil’s preventative AC maintenance program. I highly recommend Aztil AC for any of your AC needs!!!
Tino fixed my problem of no heat on my new RHEEM air conditioner on a Sunday. He knew where to look for the problem, a bad connection. It's great to know that Aztil has such professional and experienced technicians.
Response from the owner: Hi Michael,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Aztil was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Outstanding service!!!
Response from the owner: Hi Rich,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Aztil was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana and Alex were the ultimate professionals. They repaired my air conditioner quickly and did a great job cleaning up.
Response from the owner: Hi Neila,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana Dussault is awesome.After 4 hellish days without A/C, he came to our rescue. My family and I thank you for your swiftness and professionalism.God bless you
Response from the owner: Hi Germaine,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana was awesome! Clean, courteous, efficient and polite. Fixed the A/C and replaced a capacitor and got a quote for a new product Aeroseal that sounds like a good investment for the a/c ductsThanks Aztil for such an excellent experience today!
Response from the owner: Hi Pamela,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Roberto just came and did a very thorough maintenance job on our system. He was very professional and did not leave any stone unturned. We will be very happy to have him come next time!!
Response from the owner: Hi Andy,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Roberto was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Tino the service representative did an awesome job. He called to confirm ahead of time. Very courteous and professional. Outlined his scope of work before starting. Gave options to consider for future to improve performance. I would recommend him to anyone seeking service.
Response from the owner: Hi John,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Tino was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Paul was professional and knowledgeable with the repairs made on our air conditioning. He arrived on time and informed us of what needed to be done with an estimate of the costs.
Response from the owner: Hi Rhonda,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Paul was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
My new HVAC unit suffered a major mechanical failure. Technicians Dana and Rick are incredible and are true experts. Sabrina Corradetti, a manager, is one of the best customer care people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Getting the required parts from the manufacturer was a time-consuming ordeal, but Ms Corradetti stayed on top of the issue, kept me informed, was ALWAYS courteous and very helpful. Aztil has some really good folks working for them.
Response from the owner: Hi John,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana and Rick was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Ricardo did an amazing job on my contract maintenance tune up. Very thorough and explained to me what he was doing every step of the way. Thank you Ricardo
Response from the owner: Hi Howard,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ricardo was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana and Jordan went above and beyond on our AC service today. They were professional and thorough. They communicated very well and answered any of my questions.
Response from the owner: Hi Nicole,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana and Jordan was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
I continue to recommend this business to those in the area. When I have questions, if the technician is unable to answer I am immediately able to get an answer from those in the office.
Response from the owner: Hi Ashley,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Aztil was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana, outstanding technician
Response from the owner: Hi Giovanni,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Ricardo was very thorough and knowledgeable. He explained everything he did . He was on time, polite and very nice. I would like him to come for all my routine maintenance of my AC.
Response from the owner: Hi Anne,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ricardo was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana was the Aztil tech who came by to fix my AC issue on a Sunday. He was very professional and did explain everything to me very well.This is the second time I renew my 5 year contract with Aztil.
Response from the owner: Hi Ayman,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Paul was excellent, experienced. Recommend completely. Explained everything thoroughly.
Response from the owner: Hi Mary,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Aztil was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
WOW. David did a wonderful job. Nice when a company has an employee who cares enough to do a good job.
Response from the owner: Hi Debra,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that David was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Knowledgeable, Professional, efficient, personable, and timely.The experience From the office personal to the technician was excellent
Response from the owner: Hi Steve,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Aztil was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Last week we had an issue with our A/C...our request for service was handled promptly and professionally. The work took an extra day and this morning, DANA & ALEX showed up as promised. They completed the work, explaining what they did making sure we were completely satisfied. You have two outstanding employees representing your company.
Response from the owner: Hi Hanna,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana and Alex were able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Ricardo is Amazing!!!!!! He did such an incredible job helping my ducts get clean!! We can now finally breathe healthier and live happier!!!! Overall, everyone that has come to my house has done more than a 5 star job!! I wish we had been dealing with this company from day one. I will NEVER use another company again!!!
Response from the owner: Hi Melissa,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ricardo was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana was very professional. Explained every step of the way
Response from the owner: Hi Jennifer,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Paul g is awesome and so is the company
Dana and Cody from Aztil arrived when scheduled. He had the part needed and proceeded to replace the broken piece. Everything was fixed quickly, and our air conditioning is working perfectly, and he left his work area clean and neat. It’s the kind of experience one wants for a repair.
Response from the owner: Hi Patti,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana and Cody were able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana was great. Quickly fixed the problem and advised me on how to avoid future issues.
Response from the owner: Hi James,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Wr have been under service with Aztil since 2013 and they have kept us going. Our technician, Ricardo is excellent, very knowledgeable. He takes his time for little things and keeps our AC going smoothly. Couldn't recommend more!. Thanks!
Response from the owner: Hi Czarree,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ricardo was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
I have been under contract with this AC company since 2013. They have kept me going since. Just got my usual 6 month tune-up, and my technician, Ricardo was excellent and very helpful, and answered all my questions. Highly recommend. 6 months later, Ricardo is back! Excellent as always!
Response from the owner: Hi Bret, We're glad to hear that the technicians were courteous of your belongings and that Patty was helpful in scheduling the service. We take pride in our customer service and we appreciate your feedback. Thank you for choosing us for your duct cleaning needs.
We had a great experience with Dana from Aztil. He was super thorough and very helpful. He communicated great and was right on time! Highly recommend !
Response from the owner: Hi lindsay,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Ricardo went above and beyond to ensure my AC was functioning well. He took the time to review routine maintenance . He also cleaned the dryer duct and again with above and beyond. He was polite and efficient.
Response from the owner: Hi Barbara,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ricardo was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Jordan Henry was very nice and helpful to us at late night. We much appreciated his work on our HAVC. We support this company.
Response from the owner: Hi Claudia,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Aztil was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Ramon is absolutely amazing! Very informative and an excellent technician! This is the second time we’ve had him and he’s great
Response from the owner: Hi Kathy,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ramon was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana & Cody gave excellent service to my freaking out self, answered all my many questions about my cracked water tray and more. Also explained about a condensate pump. Very pleased with both them and the way they work together as a team to ensure my problem was repaired.
Response from the owner: Hi Dottie,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana & Cody was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Ramon from Aztil cleaned out the A/C drain and was very thorough, in addition to being polite!
Response from the owner: Hi Marna. Thanks for your positive feedback. Glad you were satisfied with the service from Lee. We value our employees and treat them well, that's why they stay with us. They also enjoy working with great clients such as yourself :) We appreciate your support and business.
We had our six month maintenance and had a great experience. The technician went above and beyond to ensure our unit was cleaned out.
Response from the owner: Hi Ashley,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Aztil was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Ramon took the time to be very thorough and informative. Answered any questions we had and explained recommendations well. Feel comfortable that we are in good hands with Aztil. Great service and fast response to urgent calls for service.
Response from the owner: Hi Steven,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ramon was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana from Aztil completed a major repair to my 3 year old Carrier A/C unit. Dana worked efficiently, carefully and neatly in my home. The replacement of the defective part was covered by the carrier warranty and all of the labor was covered by my Aztil maintenance contract. Dana was extremely fair and honest and did not do any upsell or extra work to run up a big bill. It was all covered by my warranty and maintenance contract. My home is cool and comfortably. I highly recommend Dana and will ask for him for all routine maintenance and repairs.
Response from the owner: Hi Michele,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
We had an A/C tune up today. I am happy to give 5 stars to Ricardo who was meticulous in doing the job right. He went above and beyond and was very courteous. 👍
Response from the owner: Hi Robert,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ricardo was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Great Job Dana !
Response from the owner: Hi Mario,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana was professionally trained and efficient and quick to get my unit working
Response from the owner: Thanks Linda for your positive feedback. We appreciate your business.
Ramon Serpa was professional and made helpful recommendations to maximize our air conditioning efficiency. Thank you!
Response from the owner: Hi Claudia,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Ramon was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
Dana was fantastic. Very thorough.
Response from the owner: Hi Bella,Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're glad to hear that you had an excellent experience with our service. We pride ourselves on our knowledgeable staff, and it's great to know that Dana was able to provide you with such great service. We appreciate your feedback and hope to see you again soon!
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