Air Conditioning Smells Like Mildew

When you turn on the air conditioner you may smell stale cigarette smoke.

Air conditioning smells like mildew.

What in the world could it be. Check to see if the drip pan under the ac unit has been knocked askew or is filling up too. How to get rid of the smell of mildew from a central air conditioner clean the filter. A lot of tiny.

Check the area around the return duct for a handle. Mold and mildew can build up when they find a nice damp dark place to hide and sometimes that includes your air conditioning system. Moisture is the building block for mold and mildew growth which can cause a musty smell from your air conditioners. Air conditioning systems trap tiny particles that settle in the filters over time and cause mildew growth when exposed to moisture.

Here are the most common reasons that a mildew smell begins to form. To prevent this from happening you should clean it once a month. Most likely it s the smell of mold and or mildew. When the air conditioning is running there is a lot of condensation within the unit.

Slide the filter out and. Clean the drain and pan. If someone has smoked in the home the odors could accumulate in the filter and evaporator coil. Change the filter schedule a professional tune up and cleaning and only smoke outdoors.

Once mildew sets in it produces a very distinct odor that is decidedly unpleasant. When the moisture doesn t drain properly it can escape into the ducts and create mold. If the filter is dirty and clogged or gets exposed to too much moisture mildew can begin to grow. Unfortunately that mildew y smell wafting in with your cool air probably is exactly what it smells like.

An air conditioner smells like mildew or mold is probably the most common symptom of central hvac systems. Check your ducts for moisture and mildew and clean them out if you find anything. Here are some common reasons that could be causing a mildew odor to develop in your ac. Unscrew the condensate drain from the coupling at the drip pan with a wrench and remove.

To do so shut off the air conditioner at the thermostat and at the breaker panel. That s bad news because your ac is most likely distributing mold and or mildew spores throughout your home.