Air Conditioning Smells Like Mildew

Once mildew sets in it produces a very distinct odor that is decidedly unpleasant.

Air conditioning smells like mildew.

Change the filter schedule a professional tune up and cleaning and only smoke outdoors. Most likely it s the smell of mold and or mildew. Unscrew the condensate drain from the coupling at the drip pan with a wrench and remove. Here are the most common reasons that a mildew smell begins to form.

Check the area around the return duct for a handle. Check to see if the drip pan under the ac unit has been knocked askew or is filling up too. If the filter is dirty and clogged or gets exposed to too much moisture mildew can begin to grow. 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. That s bad news because your ac is most likely distributing mold and or mildew spores throughout your home. Due to improper insulation moisture can build up in your air conditioning ducts causing mildew to form. If someone has smoked in the home the odors could accumulate in the filter and evaporator coil.

When the moisture doesn t drain properly it can escape into the ducts and create mold. Check your ducts for moisture and mildew and clean them out if you find anything. When you turn on the air conditioner you may smell stale cigarette smoke. Air conditioning systems trap tiny particles that settle in the filters over time and cause mildew growth when exposed to moisture.

Unfortunately that mildew y smell wafting in with your cool air probably is exactly what it smells like. To prevent this from happening you should clean it once a month. Slide the filter out and. To do so shut off the air conditioner at the thermostat and at the breaker panel.

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. When the air conditioning is running there is a lot of condensation within the unit. A lot of tiny. What in the world could it be.

Clean the drain and pan. How to get rid of the smell of mildew from a central air conditioner clean the filter.