Car AC Smells Bad: The Causes and Solutions. Know how to prevent or correct this odor. Even a cabin air filter clogged with rotting leaves or leaking trunk can become odiferous. Take two approaches to the Lysol. Forming of Mold/Mildew Turning on the air conditioner dries the air inside the car but the moisture has to go somewhere. It will typically be black, olive green, or brown with a somewhat patchy appearance. There are a couple of solutions to rid your air conditioner of unwanted stenches. and the trunk, which helped the most. As the car becomes older, bacteria, mold, fungi, and … If you notice strange smells coming from the air vents, there’s a problem. Air conditioning should be refreshing and comforting. Occasionally car air conditioners will not only blow out cold air, but they will blow out a stagnant, musty smell as well. Air conditioners create water by removing moisture from the air. Any auto parts store can help you locate the filter and The most likely culprits include the following: 1. Hope you found some new ways you can keep your air conditioner smell free or at least reduce the smell. More likely than not, you've built up some mold and mildew thanks to moisture in your AC system. People who notice that the AC smells musty in their car may question, “Is there mold in my car’s AC unit?” The answer to this is most likely, yes. This putrid smell can be avoided by replacing air filters every 10,000 to 15,000 miles as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Make sure to get every vent as you clean for the best results. Got rid of awful smell in my car.". Check every seat, the dash, and even the trunk. This smell needs to be removed, not only because it causes discomfort for other passengers, but also because the micro-organisms behind it can cause allergy-type illnesses. You should seek a replacement for the passenger compartment air filter. Let me know if you tried some of these tips and how well did it work for you. Keep the doors closed as you do this. Nothing ruins the enjoyment of cool air quite like a mold or mildew smell coming with it. But bad air conditioner smells can ruin everything! Another owner took to Reddit to share his grievance: “Mercedes won’t fix the musty smell from HVAC. That allows the natural water present in the air as humidity to condense in the cool AC evaporator and ductwork system. It will likely not help remove the actual smell if it is already there. We’ve got a handy little diagram that shows exactly how a bad smell stays in your car and produces that awful smell. Having an AC that smells musty isn’t pleasant to drive around in that's for sure, but does it actually pose a problem for your health? A vehicle's air conditioning system is a breeding ground for bacteria and mould ... We turned on the air conditioning in our car last week to test it and it smells musty… 5 Reasons Your AC Smells Musty & How to Fix It. Sprayed vents, under dash, "Very helpful. If your car ac smells bad, it may be down to the air filter needing to be changed, a build-up of debris or mold. If the problem still persists, contact a car mechanic as you might need to physically remove the evaporator or other infected parts and disinfect them. It’s so named because the smell resembles clothes that have been in a sweaty gym bag for way too long. We recommend you read our article on how to recharge your car air conditioning system at home. These smells and odors are a direct result of the mold and bacteria that can collect in your air conditioner, but there are several ways to prevent and treat them. Although air conditioning in a car is one of the most preferred product features when hot, it can as well bring some inconveniences. It shouldn’t have any discernible smell. Note: Vehicle water leaks from the windshield, windows and exterior accessories, can also cause musty car smells, but the most common cause is from the air conditioner. Occasionally car air conditioners will not only blow out cold air, but they will blow out a stagnant, musty smell as well. ...Cue the stink from your AC. "I purchased a 2012 car that had a bad smell when first turning on, then would go away. Use our free cost calculator to find out how much hiring a Rug Doctor can save you money! … Dale Wickell is an automotive expert who has worked in the industry for ", How to Eliminate Odor from a Car Air Conditioner, http://www.carsdirect.com/car-maintenance/weird-car-air-conditioner-smell-what-it-means-and-how-to-fix-it, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es6EQNPXb2c, http://www.seattletimes.com/news/breathe-easy-cars-intake-vent-easy-to-find/, http://www.kbb.com/car-advice/articles/moldy-smells-inside-car-vents/, избавиться от неприятного запаха из автомобильного кондиционера, Eliminare gli Odori dal Condizionatore dell'Automobile, quitar el mal olor del aire acondicionado del auto, Eliminar o Mau Cheiro do Ar Condicionado do Carro, éliminer les odeurs du système d'air conditionné de la voiture, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. However, your air conditioner does make use of some fluids and when heated they can smell like exhaust fumes. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. There are several commercial air-con cleaning sprays that you will find readily available in your local auto parts stores. Air Conditioner Smells like a Car’s Exhaust? Clogged drain lines The condensate drain line helps in removing the condensation generated by the coils. (And How to Fix it). Download Rug Doctor’s Ultimate Stain Removal Guide. Persistent or unrecognizable smells, if they last more than 1-2 days, should be checked out by a mechanic. With the car running, spray the disinfectant into the re-circulation vent, then switch the AC from max power to full fan mode to prevent additional moisture from coming in. Mold and Bacteria Probably one of the reasons why there is a distinct smell in your air conditioner when you turn it on is the growth of mold in your air vents. Forming of Mold/Mildew. Then you must spray on the inputs and outputs of the system. The growth of mould has been known to make people sick, to the point where it has actually become dangerous. Associated smell: Musty . My air conditioner has a musty smell that is typically noticeable for the first 60 seconds or A/C operation. Remember, prevention is better than cure; and a mould infestation can be easily prevented. How-To Remove Air Conditioner Smells. As it gets used, your car's air conditioning begins to emit a bad smell when you turn it on. [1] When your car’s AC is on, the air that is filled with dirt, dust, organic material, dead skin cells etc. The droplets of water gather on the evaporator before going outside through a drain tube. Inhaling or touching mould can also cause a runny nose, sneezing, red eyes and skin-rash. When does it smell: All the time, or after a rain.. Why it Smells. Air filters collect dust mites, dirt, and pollutants, the buildup of which can cause an unpleasant smell from your vents when you use the AC or the heater. Make sure that the label clearly states that the product will kill mould and bacteria. This smell has been described in many ways – musty, rotten eggs, dirty socks, fishy, burnt plastic, gas, to list a few – and can even be accompanied by the feeling of being short of breath, dizziness, or headaches. Not a bad way to get rid of all the smell at once right? Fix a smelly air-conditioner using one of these two methods: When you reach your destination (with the AC still on), Turn off your car’s AC button about two blocks away from your destination, switch to vent mode, An air freshener is not the best solution for car odour removal. Car Air Conditioner Smells Musty Source(s): https://shrinks.im/a0vLY 0 0 Anonymous 5 years ago This Site Might Help You. Unfortunately, some of this stuff gets stuck in the evaporator. If your AC smells like mildew, body odor, decay, or other foul odors, it’s time to % of people told us that this article helped them. An air freshener is not the best solution for car odour removal. When the air conditioner is turned on it creates moisture which attracts bacteria, mold and odor. It is most noticeable when the A/C is first turned on. Are you also struggling with bad smells on your carpet? A moldy or mildewy smell indicates that water is getting in your car and then pooling there. Luckily, most air conditioner smells occur because of a dirty or clogged air filter, and all you have to do is clean or replace the filter. As air pumps past the evaporator and into the car, it picks up mold spores, which feed on the moisture. For burning or chemically smells, take your car to a dealer immediately. Another potential contributor to the unpleasant smell emanating from your air vents could be from sources brought into the car, like food, pets, children’s accidents, and smoke from cigarettes or cigars. Almost every type of stain and the solutions - all covered in just two pages. Then you have to operate the air conditioner for about half an hour to allow the product to circulate inside the ducts and remove the microorganisms that cause the musty smell in your car. To eliminate odor from a car air conditioner, sit in the car, but make sure the car, AC, and fan are all turned off. My car air conditioner smells terrible. Unless you’ve got a small garden growing in there, chances are you might be wondering why your car is smelling terrible. This causes an unpleasant odor coming out the air conditioner unit. Lysol works but not spraying it in the vents. To get rid of the mildew smell in your car, you will first need to identify the source. To learn how to prevent AC odors, read on! If you have children or elderly people frequently travelling with you in your car, you should deal with the musty smell and the mould sooner rather than later. Occasionally car air conditioners will not only blow out cold air, but they will blow out a stagnant, musty smell as well. The Original Clean Air® Duct Freshener’s active CX 22 formula safely freshens, cleans and coats the entire ventilation system – vents, ductwork, evaporator core, and drain pan. That moisture is a nice warm and dark place for mold to grow. Must, Mildew, and Mold; If there is excess humidity or moisture in the HVAC system, you could end up with mold and mildew flowing through the ductwork. You need to clean the ducts in order to remove unwanted microorganisms and get rid of musty smell from your car. It is what’s known as ‘dirty sock syndrome’, and it might be the source of your air conditioner’s fragrance problem. "The air conditioning system not only cools, it dehumidifies the air. If possible, try to use a blower and dry the evaporator routinely, especially during high humidity seasons. When the air conditioning is running, there is a lot of condensation within the unit. An air conditioner does not run on an internal combustion engine. You just need to find the AC drain pipe, stick the included tube up to … How to Get Rid of the Cars Musty Air Conditioning Smell. The most common source of odor from the heating and air conditioning is moisture accumulating on the evaporator (removed from the car, above). To learn how to prevent AC odors, read on! ... a single cell organism that grows in the dark and wet environment in your car’s air-conditioning system. by using the Hand tool attachment, along with the Rug Doctor Odour Remover in the machine. But this is the real kicker - external organic-matter/dust/dirt along with the moisture will cause a mould infestation on your evaporator and voila! There are solutions for that. When you turn on your car’s air conditioner, you should receive a flow of cold air that cools the cabin. 4 The first thing to do is buy a specific spray in a specialized shop to clean the car's air conditioning ducts. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/16\/Eliminate-Odor-from-a-Car-Air-Conditioner-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Eliminate-Odor-from-a-Car-Air-Conditioner-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/16\/Eliminate-Odor-from-a-Car-Air-Conditioner-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid7531411-v4-728px-Eliminate-Odor-from-a-Car-Air-Conditioner-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"