The best part is that if your ac unit has a musty or other unpleasant smell, you can do something about it to get rid of it. Find out what’s causing the issue by reading on.
What’s the Big Deal About Strange Smells?
Smells such as filthy socks, stinky eggs, and mildew are all signs that your air conditioning equipment needs to be repaired. As the new heating or cooling season begins, the dirt that has accumulated in your Air conditioner unit will begin to burn off, and your device may give off a smell similar to that of a fire. It’s possible that your vents are filled with rotting eggs, which might indicate a leakage of gas or the presence of an animal. Mold can be detected by a musty or filthy sock smell.
The presence of a musty stench in your HVAC system indicates that there may be impurities in the system. Bacteria thrive in a dark, moist environment like your digestive tract. This indicates that your air conditioner is dispersing mould spores throughout your house, putting your family at risk. People with allergies should avoid exposure to these spores since they might cause serious health problems.
Reasons for the Musty Smell of Your Air Conditioner
The presence of a rotten or stinky smell in your ac unit can be caused by a number of different things. The following are the most probable culprits:
1. An Overflowing Drain Pan
As your air conditioning unit removes humidity from the air in your house, water droplets will begin to accumulate in the drain pan. This component of your Ac unit is subject to regular wear and tear, and as a result, its performance will degrade with time.
Mold grows in an inefficient drip pan, causing a musty odour in our house while the unit is operating. To get rid of the smell, get it replaced by a professional HVAC specialist in your area.
2. Frozen Evaporator Coils
During the cooling process, your air conditioner collects moisture from the warm indoor air and returns it to the system through return vents. A clean air filter is necessary for this procedure to work properly.
The evaporator coils get clogged with droplets of water from the moist indoor air when dust and dirt hinder airflow. Water droplets in the air will freeze when the refrigerant in the Air – conditioning unit reduces the air’s temperature. To go back to normal airflow, your HVAC expert will have to defrost the condenser coil and replace the filters.
3. Too much Moisture In Vents Or Air ducts
High levels of humidity or even a drainage leakage are often to blame when there is an accumulation of excessive moisture inside the vents and air ducts. As soon as you switch on the air conditioner, it’s possible that mildew and mold have reached your ducts, causing the musty smell you’re smelling.
Inhaling mould spores may cause respiratory problems, so contact a skilled HVAC specialist immediately. To get rid of musty smells for good, you’ll need to have your vents and ducts professionally cleaned and repaired.
4. Dirty Evaporator Coils
Another cause of musty AC odour is a filthy evaporator coil, which can be a breeding place for fungus. Your air conditioning system should be cleaned and serviced regularly to prevent this problem. A UV light can also be used to prevent this fungus from forming in the first place.
5. Dirty Filters
Filters are used in air conditioning units to remove debris, grime, and other contaminants from the airflow before it is circulated around your house. Regular cleaning or repair is necessary for your AC’s air filters in order to keep the air flowing smoothly.
Dust particles can build up in air filters if they are left untouched for an extended period of time. Mold and mildew can form on the evaporator coils when moisture from the moist air collects on the coils.
6. Improper AC Unit Size
The size of the air conditioning unit needed to maintain a comfortable temperature varies from place to place. A too big unit will draw in new air too rapidly, preventing the space from being appropriately dehumidified. The AC will smell musty if the device is too tiny to chill the room.
7. Jammed Condensate Line
The condensate line is a component of your AC system that allows water to be drained away from your house after it has accumulated in the drain pan. Beside the condenser unit, there is a pipe made of PVC that may be seen here. There is an abundance of mildew, mold and filth in this tiny, confined area since it is meant to contain water. Clogs and stinky smells can result from the growth of these organisms in this pipe.
HVAC Maintenance Plan
Keeping your HVAC system in good working order can also assist keep your building’s smells under control. In addition to interfering with your ability to work, smells can have a severe impact on your health and the well-being of others around you. Building owners and managers must ensure that their HVAC systems are up-to-date so that unpleasant smells can be removed from their buildings.
Bad smells can also be the result of a poorly maintained HVAC system with clogged ducts and air filters. If you’re in charge of a building, it’s your job to make sure the Ac unit is up-to-date so that it can remove unpleasant odours.
Summary
Having an air conditioner that smells bad isn’t just annoying; it can be dangerous to you and your family’s well-being. It can trigger an asthma attack, sensitivities, respiratory issues like coughing and infections, itchy skin, dizziness, difficulty breathing, red and irritated eyes, etc. This can be an indication of malfunction and need the services of a trained specialist. You may do certain tasks on your own, such as maintaining the filter in a regular manner in accordance with the recommendations provided by the manufacturer.
For assistance with the management of your air conditioning requirements, please visit our website for more details.