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).

If your air conditioner is beginning to smell, then it's time to find and clear the source of the bad odor. Air conditioning odors usually come from mold and mildew that accumulate from condensation on the refrigerator coils, in a clogged drain pan, or leak in the system. rooftop air handling unitBut, animals can also get in the unit and die, creating a really bad odor. portable ac unit 1000 btuYou'll need to check for both conditions before cleaning. air conditioning unit gumtreeIf you have a window unit, cleaning is a little easier. Depending on the style and model, open the covers, top or access panels of your air conditioning unit. Using a flashlight, look inside the unit for signs of what might be causing the odor. Look for any dead animals (mice, rats, bats, squirrels, or snakes,), decaying vegetation, mold or mildew.

If you have a window unit, remove the unit from the window and place it on the ground or a flat outdoor surface. Removing access panels to a window unit may take a little more work because of the amount of screws. Draw a diagram to indicate what screws and snaps go to what panel to make reassembly easier. While wearing latex gloves, remove any visible debris or dead animals you can reach. When you've removed as much of any debris you can find, use your foaming coil cleaner and spray the air conditioner's coil. Allow the foam to work for about 10 to 15 minutes. This should loosen any dirt, oil or grime. Rinse until the water from the unit runs clear. Find and remove your air conditioner's condensation drain line. Flush the line with bleach and hot water, or with undiluted distilled white vinegar if you don't want to use bleach, to kill any fungi, mold or mildew that may be in the line. Allow the line to dry. While you have the line off, install a three-way clean-out valve to allow for future cleaning without having to remove the line.

In a window unit you won't have a line, but will be able to see the built in drain pan and drainage hole. Make sure the pan and hole are clean. Use an old toothbrush if needed. Find the drip or drain pan or tray. Remove and wash thoroughly with hot, soapy water. Rinse with diluted bleach solution or undiluted white distilled vinegar if you don't want to use bleach. Allow pan to dry. Find and replace, any filters in your unit. If your unit uses reusable filters clean them with hot soapy water and rinse with a diluted bleach solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. Check the old filters for mold and mildew. After cleaning your air conditioner, turn it back on and test the air with a few sniffs. If the odor persists, your problem may be in your duct-work.Exposure to mold in the home can cause serious health problems. One hidden place that mold can grow is within your air conditioner; with air constantly circulating through the unit into your home, mold spores are picked up and pushed into your living areas.

Be watchful for signs that mold could be lurking in your AC, including a musty smell when the unit is running or visible mold on the exterior of the unit. If you notice these signs, the following steps will help you safely clean mold from your window air conditioner unit. Clean Mold from Your Window Air Conditioner: A Step By Step Guide Vacuum cleaner with attachments The following mold removal process should be performed in an area with good ventilation. Put on your safety gear (mask, eyewear, and gloves). Turn off the air conditioner and unplug the unit from its power source. Take off the front body grille of your unit. On most units, this can be done easily by pulling it forward and pushing down slightly. If the grille is screwed in, use the screwdriver to remove the screws. Remove the filter that is located in the air conditioner’s front grille. (some of these filters are disposable, if – so, install a new one.) If your filter is washable, as most window unit’s filters are…place the filter in your sink and sprinkle it with laundry detergent.

Fill the sink with enough hot water to cover the filter. Let the filter soak for 15 minutes. Next, use the scrub brush to clean both sides of the filter. Rinse out the filter with clean water and hang it to dry. Next, go back to your air conditioner unit and unscrew the metal cover located behind the front body grill and lift it directly upwards. Use the vacuum and attachments to clean out as much dirt and debris from the interior of the unit as possible. Wipe out any visible mold growth. In your bucket, mix a solution of ½ cup bleach, 1 tablespoon mild dish soap, and 3 gallons hot water. Using a cloth, brush, or sponge, soak up the solution and scrub the moldy areas of your air conditioner well. Also clean the air conditioner front grille if that has mold on it. Allow the solution to sit on these surfaces for approximately 10 minutes, then rinse with water and a damp cloth. Let the unit, filter, grille, and metal cover dry completely. Reassemble the air conditioning unit and plug back into its power source.