Musty smells may not be noticeable when the air conditioner is off. Air conditioning, particularly central air, is a luxury for some and a necessity to others. Either way, it's supposed to make you comfortable, and that's not possible if there's an unpleasant, musty smell coming out of your vents. That smell is mildew, and it indicates that there has been moisture in the duct system and that the unit may require maintenance. Once repairs are complete, you will still need to get rid of all lingering odors and eliminate any possible health hazards associated with inhalation. Check the area around the return duct for a handle. Slide the filter out and purchase a new one at your local home improvement store. Slide the new filter back into the slot. Unscrew the condensate drain from the coupling at the drip pan with a wrench and remove the drip pan. Do not attempt to remove the pan if the housing is completely inside the unit. Clear any debris in the drain and pan. Pour some bleach or white vinegar into the pan and onto a rag.

Clean the end of the drain with the rag and replace the pan. Wait a couple of days to see if the smell has dissipated. Check the ducts in the basement or attic for leaks while the blower is on. closeout hvac unitsIf air is leaking out, it also means that moisture is leaking in and forming mold within the ducts. cover ugly air conditioning unitCall a professional if the ducts are leaking or if there is still a smell after cleaning the drain and tray. jual ac portable jogjaIf there is, the mold may be collecting inside the unit itself. If that's the case you'll need to have the unit cleaned by a professional. Things You Will Need Replacement filter Wrench Bleach or white vinegar Rag Warning References Alan Vryhof, Licensed General Contractor; My Window Air Conditioner Smells Bad!

Q: I bought a new window AC at the start of summer and having been using it regularly since, but now it's starting to smell like mildew every time I turn it on, a funky odor wafting throughout my apartment. It's too hot not to keep it on, but I don't want to live with this smell. Can anyone recommend how to get rid of the smell? Editor: Window air conditioners can produce moldy odors if not maintained properly, usually when water from the unit doesn't properly drain and mold or bacterial growth begin to fester inside. Check out this window AC maintenance checklist for future reference and the video below showing how to clean air conditioner coils. There's also some who use a bleach+water solution or Lysol to disinfect the system, but when in doubt, you'll want to call a HVAC serviceman to handle the cleaning and point out the cause of the odor. Leave your suggestions for Shaun in the comments - thanks!Send us yours with a photo or two attached (questions with photos get answered first).

Air conditioners can grow mold and start to blow smelly, unhealthy air into your home if not cleaned properly. Fortunately, a windowed unit doesn't cost much to keep clean; you just need a bleach and water solution and the right approach. The video above demonstrates how you can easily clean out an odor and keep your air conditioner running at top efficiency. It basically boils down to this:Wash the filter: Your air conditioner's filter collects a lot of dust and debris. It can effectively blow cold air into your home if that filter is full of crap. Wash it off with the bleach and water solution for better airflow without a funky odor.Clean the coils: Evaporator coils lie beneath the air filter. You'll need a brush attachment on a vacuum (or a handheld with a similar function) to get the dirt off quickly, but you can just use a scrub brush if your prefer the old-fashioned way.Straighten the fins: If you've got bent fins on your air conditioner, fix 'em! You just need to pick up a fin comb at your local hardware store and use it.

For the most part, you really just need to wash the filter. Unless you've been using the air conditioner for a long time, that's likely causing the most inefficiency and where you'll find trapped smells first. If not, move your way down the list. My Air Conditioner Smells Bad! | When you turn on the air conditioner in your car, do you often have a distinct car air conditioner smell that is weird or repugnant? If this is the case, then there is definitely wrong with your car air conditioner. There are some ways to detect and find certain smells that are coming from your air conditioner. Most of the time, these smells are a result of some damage in your car air conditioner. There are also several reasons why your car air conditioner emits a certain smell. 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. Smells of mildew in your car may be caused by the growth of bacteria. As the car becomes older, bacteria, mold, fungi, and micro-organisms can start to grow.

The growth of these bacteria is often behind the dash panel on the evaporator. This causes an unpleasant odor coming out the air conditioner unit. Also, if the air conditioner is not used as often then this can also cause the growth of bacteria. Turning on your air conditioner to maximum often may also cause bacteria growth due to the excess water that is dripping in your unit. To fix this problem, locate the drain tube in your A/C unit. Make sure that is working properly. Use an anti-bacterial treatment that will destroy bacteria that is growing behind your dash panel. Inject the treatment solution into the air conditioner case. It is advisable to turn off the car air conditioner for awhile and let the fan run instead for a few minutes. This will help evaporate the water on the coils of your unit. If you smell gas every time you turn on your car air conditioner, then your car may have a gas leak. When you turn on your A/C unit, the gas smell is being sucked into the fresh air that the air conditioner is taking.

To solve this problem, you need to repair the leak. There are several areas where you can check for a gas leak. Inspect the fuel pressure regulator of your engine to see if the leak is in this area. You can also check the fuel injector "O" rings in the engine compartment for any leaks. It is also advisable to check your exhaust pipes and muffler for any holes that can cause gas leaks. Your air filters may also be causing a weird car air conditioner smell. If not cleaned properly, the air filter can collect dirt, stagnant water, dust mites, and other harmful pollutants. This can result in a bad smell every time you turn on your air conditioner. You can easily fix this problem by just replacing the old filter with a new one and regularly cleaning the air filter of your air conditioner unit. If the cooling system in your car smells sweet, then you should have your unit checked immediately. The sweet smell is often the cause of toxic liquid ethylene glycol or antifreeze. This smell is the result of a leak in the cooling system.

The leak can come from the heater core, pipe or hose, coolant housing unit, or the radiator.You can do an anti bacterial treatment for your A/C by yourself. There are special antibacterial cleaners that you have to spray on the air filter once a month. You can also try cleaning your air conditioner at least once in a month to ensure that it produces clean and filtered air. Try products like Klima-Cleaner's. This product removes odors from the car and removes water condensation on the air conditioner system too. This can cost about $15 per bottle and can last you a long time. Other products you can try include GardX One Shot Deodoriser, and Kleen Air-Air Conditioning Cleaner & Purifier. Both of which cost about $45-$100.A fuel injector o-ring is usually sold at car spare part stores. The dealer may try to sell you the entire fuel injection system, as a few cars will come only in sets. Take a look at the Owners Manual to find out the size of the o-ring that you require. You can then ask the dealer to show you an assortment of rings and then choose the right one from them.