I recently purchased a Perfect air 8000 BTU window air conditioning unit. After installing it, I turned it on and noticed that the air coming out has a fishy odor. This has got me worried! Is there something wrong with the unit? Could it be mold from a brand new unit that was not used? Will the smell go away with some time, or is it unsafe to breathe in? I've also heard rumors about Midea recalling some units due to mold issues; are these brands related somehow?
3 Answers
Honestly, if it's smelling weird—especially something like fish—it's probably not worth the hassle. Just return it. Your health and comfort are way more important than keeping a faulty AC unit.
If you smell something fishy coming from your AC, it might point to an electrical issue, like overheating wires. This can be a sign that something's wrong. Just for peace of mind, it might be best to keep an eye on it.
I ended up taking mine back because of the smell. The next unit I got didn't smell at all! I’ve heard about those electrical issues, but honestly, the funky smell was just too gross to deal with.
That fishy smell could also remind you of swamp coolers when they're not cleaned regularly. Make sure you consider the maintenance aspect when choosing a unit.
I took that advice and swapped mine out too. The replacement is much better, thankfully! Definitely a weird experience dealing with that smell.