Why does my central air conditioner smell like chlorine?

Question

I had a cholrine smell coming from my central air system last summer so I called a heating and cooling repairman. He said that I was running out of freon and refilled my system with maybe 10 -15lbs of freon. Now this summer when I turned on the central air I have a chlorine smell again. Any ideas whats going on? Should that much freon last more then a few months? Please help.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Freon systems are supposed to be hermetical sealed refrigerant circuits. Unless you have a leak in a fitting ,connection, or soldered joint you should never have to refill your system.

If your repair man just filled your unit with freon, and did not find and repair the leak, then the amount of leak and time to leak out is dependent on the size of the leak opening to your system. And your freon will be gone once again.  Re guarding the chlorine smell or resemblance to chlorine smell. I have experience freon leaks and never related it to chlorine smell in the slightest. I have smelled the refrigerant oil misting into the air but not a chlorine smell. I know that some drain and pan tablets designed to keep your drain line of your a/c open have chlorine  base in them and if wet in the summer they smell like chlorine. But ask your repair man why he didn't repair your freon leak at the time he added freon.

Answer 2

Well, actually there are units that hold that much freon for residential applications today. With higher efficiencies come bigger coils indoor and out (i.e. takes more freon) so that isn't really an issue.

Chlorine smell was most likely tablets to keep drain line and pan clear as others have said.

Biggest problem that you have is IF the technician did put that much refrigerant in your system, you have a leak somewhere that needs to be fixed. Call them back and ask for the manager and ask why his technician would put that much refrigerant in the system without looking for the leak.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Well the 1st ac contractor is not to be trusted, the chlorine smell are tablets they put in the over flow pan to prevent an accumulation of alga which sometimes clogs the drain lines and causes an over flow in your attic and leak into your ceiling.  It will go away in a month or so.

Answer 4

HVAC Tech.:  No home system on the market would hold that much freon. Most won't take over 36 oz. if they have no charge at all. Someone may have put chlorine bleach in the drain pan? You may have a very small leak either in the evaporator or one of the tubing joints. I would ask for a different technician if you are under warranty. Without some external cause the refrigerant should not leak out. I have see systems go for 20 years without a recharge. You will need a technician, so call one and hope he is a good one. keep cool.