Air Conditioner Smells Musty When First Turned On

September 17, 2021 Post a Comment

Today the pros at All Weather discuss the top reasons why this happens and ways to solve the problem. As soon as you turn your air conditioner on it can discharge a foul smell into your home.

Why Does My Ac Smell Funny Ac Repair Maintenance In West Volusia

When your air conditioner stinks like feet or sweaty clothes like a locker room when its turned on you probably have a soiled evaporator coil.

Air conditioner smells musty when first turned on. Dust hair and moisture on the AC filter encourage mildew growth which can cause a musty odor when the air conditioner runs. Remove the cabin air filter first and start the engine and AC and select recirculate take a can of Oziom odor and bacteria killer and spray a good amount into the system where you removed the filter. Mold and mildew develop in places with high moisture content so your air conditioner is a prime candidate.

Components of an AC is a system that should work simultaneously to be efficient which means that if one component is not functioning properly other components will be likely affected too. In fact its so common that its. If you have a ductlesscentral air conditioning system lizards and other critters can sometimes go into your indoor unit and make for an unpleasant experience.

The actual nature of that problem will depend on what youre smelling. If you start up your air conditioner and notice a musty odor similar to wet laundry thats been left sitting youre most likely smelling mold or mildew. Dying or stuck animals can also damage different components within your system.

Rest assured it is not uncommon for your air conditioner to smell the first time you fire it up for the summer season. However the location of the smell. Air conditioning particularly central air cant make you feel comfortable during warm spring and summer nights if theres an unpleasant musty smell coming out of your vents.

It then removes the moisture which goes into. You get into a hot car and instantly reach to turn up the AC only to be hit in the face with an unpleasant and unwanted smell. No one wants that.

That smell is usually caused by mildew and it means there has been moisture in the duct system or ac unit and the unit may require cleaning or air conditioner service. So if the musty smell started after you got a new air conditioner that is the likely cause. If the AC filter clogs it will attract dust dirt and other harmful pollutants.

Over time a filter can. When you turn on your AC unit for the first time and smell gas burning the cause may either be normal or a major cause of concern. Most likely its the smell of mold andor mildew.

Unusual sounds coming from your air conditioning can often be indicative of an issue with the compressor in your cars air conditioning unit which will need to be addressed before it is able to work correctly again As with many of your cars internal components the air conditioning is powered by a series of belts and pulleys. If you notice that the air from your central air conditioner smells musty keep reading to learn some of the most common causes and how to address them. One of the most typical causes of a smell from an AC unit is build-up on your filter.

Smell around your home and see if any of the descriptions below match up with your situation. Thats bad news because your AC is most likely distributing mold andor mildew spores throughout your home. The air coming out of your air conditioning unit isnt supposed to have a smell.

However youll probably need the expertise of a professional HVAC technician if you notice the equipment emitting a musty odor a few seconds after adjusting the thermostat to a cooler setting. When you run into a problem with your central air conditioner including an unexplained odor it is best to try the simple fix first. When you turn on your cars air conditioner you should receive a flow of cold air that cools the cabin.

Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell Bad When Turned On. Make sure to replace that filter ever so often to prevent that from happening again. Dirty Cabin air filter.

Lets go over the sources of the moldmildew. An air conditioner works by absorbing the heat and humidity from inside your home. Your air filters can also cause a musty smell coming out when you turn on your car ac.

This smell has been described in many ways musty rotten eggs dirty socks fishy burnt plastic gas to list a few and can even be accompanied by the feeling of being short of breath dizziness or headaches. This is a likely reason why the air conditioner smells when first turned on if you dont use forced-air heating in winter. Especially if your air conditioner smells musty after winter this is not a big deal and you only need to clean your unit before turning it on.

Finally if youve had any work done in your attic recently your air conditioner might not be the cause of the problem. For one thing dust settling in the heat exchanger HVAC system can smell like gas burning off. It shouldnt have any discernible smell.

This can cause an unpleasant smell inside your car mainly when you turn on your car ac. This is because newer AC units use aluminum coils which can corrode far easier and can emit undesirable odors. Unfortunately this is a common problem with air conditioners.

Both harmful to your health especially if you have allergy issues. Ductwork holes in the attic. This is because careless contractors can accidentally put holes in your ductwork when working in your attic.

Swap Out Your Air Filter. The musty smell also known as dirty sock syndrome is the result of bacteria mildew and mold growth. Additionally a shorted circuit board may cause a gunpowder smell to come from an air conditioning system that has been turned on after a long time of disuse.

If you notice strange smells coming from the air vents theres a problem. If your home smells like mold and mildew you could have a clogged condensate line.

Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell Weird When I Turn It On