I just unboxed and installed a portable ac earlier today. I have noticed that when I turn it on, for the first ten seconds or so, a smell of rotten eggs or stinky socks comes out. It's very nasty. But then the smell goes away as fast as it appeared.

What is causing that horrible smell? Why is it only for the first few seconds? Do you think there's chemicals on the coils from when it was manufactured that are burning off? That's my theory.

Is the smell dangerous to my family?

I really don't know. I'm just a lady that doesn't know anything about HVAC.

Should I exchange it?