Dust Smell From Air Conditioner. This type of odor coming from the air conditioning vents could be a sign of mold, dust or mildew. This is only temporary, and is nothing to be too concerned about.
Different odors indicate different types of issues, which is exactly why it's important to know the sources of the most common air duct odors that you may encounter. It is just your furnace/heat pump burning off dust. Even when your air conditioner is idle over the winter, dust and dirt can collect. Well, if there's a burning smell coming from your vents, the problem really depends on whether you're using heat or air conditioning: Wipe away any visible mold growth.
When the air conditioning is running, there is a lot of condensation within the unit.
After a season of lying dormant, it's expected—even common—to notices some strange smells emanating from your air conditioner. After sitting for months, dust will accumulate in your system and the ac just needs to burn everything off. If your air conditioner is oversized, it means your ac won't run long enough to remove moisture from your home's air. Sometimes the smell may be more similar to gun powder, which can indicate a short from the ac's circuit board or fan motor. This type of odor coming from the air conditioning vents could be a sign of mold, dust or mildew. A smelly air conditioner is often caused by clogs in the condensate drainage system.