Do you have a gross musty smell, kind of like clothing left in the washing machine for too long, wafting from your air conditioner? Typically, this is the smell of mold or mildew. It’s not just an annoyance, it may also signal that something is going wrong with your air conditioner. Here are 4 reasons that your air conditioner smells musty that you might want to look into.
1. Drain Pan Problems
Air conditioners create moisture, and they must use a drain pan and a drain line to release that moisture down your drain. However, if your pan isn’t draining properly, the water in it is just sitting around, making a great little vacation spot for mold spores and mildew. Growths in the pan may be the cause of the smell, and they will create more mold spores over time, potentially infecting other areas of the house. Your HVAC technician can clear our dirty pans and fix the underlying problem.
2. Old Air Filters
All air conditioners have air filters, meant to trap dust, dirt, and other debris in your air. However, they need to be changed out regularly. Otherwise, the bacteria, mold, and mildew they collect can begin to grow in them. Then, your air conditioner is spewing out this debris, and the smells that go along with it, into the air. Changing out your air filter regularly, at least once per year and potentially more depending on your air quality, will correct this issue.
Are you experiencing a smell from your air conditioner? Don’t worry, it only indicates that the system needs a service. Call the cooling professionals at Guelph ClimateCare today to schedule your service appointment.
3. Air Duct Issues
Those who have a central air system may smell their air conditioner’s musty smell throughout the home. This can happen when the air duct is picking up excess moisture from the air conditioner, and mold and mildew are finding a home in the dust and debris trapped in your air ducts. Over time, this debris can actually become a thick mat, kind of like the layer of lint from the dryer, except grosser because it is exposed to all of the airborne particles in your home and from dampness from the air conditioner.
An air duct cleaning can resolve this problem and make your home smell fresh again.
4. Frozen Evaporator Coils
During routine air conditioner maintenance, your HVAC technician may recommend cleaning the evaporator coils. These coils provide the cold air to your home. But, when they get covered in dust and dirt, they are less able to do their job. This slowly undermines your air conditioner’s efficiency and can lead to moisture issues that allow for mold and mildew growth.
Getting your air conditioner maintained regularly will prevent this and the other problems on this list.
If you are noticing a musty smell coming from your AC unit, the professionals can help you get rid of it. Give the experts at Guelph ClimateCare a call today to learn more.
