Air Conditioning Smells Like Mildew

Here are the most common reasons that a mildew smell begins to form.

Air conditioning smells like mildew.

Since this pipe is a small enclosed space designed to hold water it s a prime location for mold mildew and sludge to grow causing clogs and musty smells inside your house. To prevent this from happening you should clean it once a month. When the air conditioning is running there is a lot of condensation within the unit. That s bad news because your ac is most likely distributing mold and or mildew spores throughout your home.

An air conditioner smells like mildew or mold is probably the most common symptom of central hvac systems. Check to see if the drip pan under the ac unit has been knocked askew or is filling up too. Unfortunately that mildew y smell wafting in with your cool air probably is exactly what it smells like. Unscrew the condensate drain from the coupling at the drip pan with a wrench and remove.

Once mildew sets in it produces a very distinct odor that is decidedly unpleasant. Due to improper insulation moisture can build up in your air conditioning ducts causing mildew to form. Moisture is the building block for mold and mildew growth which can cause a musty smell from your air conditioners. When you turn on the air conditioner you may smell stale cigarette smoke.

Check the area around the return duct for a handle. If someone has smoked in the home the odors could accumulate in the filter and evaporator coil. Air conditioning systems trap tiny particles that settle in the filters over time and cause mildew growth when exposed to moisture. Check your ducts for moisture and mildew and clean them out if you find anything.

Change the filter schedule a professional tune up and cleaning and only smoke outdoors. Mold and mildew can build up when they find a nice damp dark place to hide and sometimes that includes your air conditioning system. Most likely it s the smell of mold and or mildew. When the moisture doesn t drain properly it can escape into the ducts and create mold.

How to get rid of the smell of mildew from a central air conditioner clean the filter. A lot of tiny. Slide the filter out and. What in the world could it be.

If the filter is dirty and clogged or gets exposed to too much moisture mildew can begin to grow. To do so shut off the air conditioner at the thermostat and at the breaker panel.