California’s heat more or less necessitates using the AC at times. However, this isn’t always as pleasant as it should be. If you’ve ever noticed that your AC smells musty when active, you’ve probably wondered why that is. It’s worth it to your health and comfort to learn more about why your AC might smell and what you can do about it. Henry Mechanical in Sonoma County is breaking down the common causes of musty odors coming from your AC system and how to fix them.

Possible Reasons for Musty Odor

There are a number of reasons for that musty odor coming from your AC. One of the more common causes is some form of biological growth (mold, mildew, etc.) on some part of your system. As anyone who’s dealt with this problem elsewhere can tell you, a musty smell is one of the telltale signs of something like mold. It only makes sense that you’d start to smell something like that when your AC is blowing if you have growth in your system.

Poor circulation could also be the culprit. In this case, there’s nothing wrong with your AC itself, but a lack of proper ventilation or power to circulate air through your home can cause it to stagnate. This means dust, debris, and mold spores in the air can’t be effectively diluted or pushed out of your home. This pollution hangs in the air inside rooms and makes them smell and often taste less fresh.

It’s also possible that an animal may have died in your vents. In this case, the smell might be less musty and more rotten. Dead pests like rats could indicate an infestation in your home on top of the bad smell in your AC system, so it may be a good idea to call an exterminator to check things out after the fact.

Fixing a Musty Smell from Your AC

Depending on the source of the smell coming from your AC, fixing it can require a variety of different options. For bio growth, deep cleaning or replacing affected parts can definitely help. You can also try changing your air filter, as a clean filter will catch more of the odor-causing particles. Improving air circulation by opening vents and doors is also a benefit.

Why Does the Smell Only Happen When It’s On?

You might notice a musty smell once your AC is on. This could be because the main odor-causing components are far enough away that you can’t smell them until air starts to blow. In other cases, your system may be picking up bad smells from outside your home entirely. If this is the case, you’ll want to locate whatever is causing the smell and handle the issue however possible.

Is the Musty Smell Coming From the Vents?

In some cases, the smell may originate from the vents. Leaky vents, for example, are more prone to mold growth due to their exposure to moisture and the outside. If this is the case, your AC system itself may be perfectly fine, with only your vents to blame. After cleaning the bio growth, you’ll want to reseal your vents to prevent this from happening again.
Call the Pros at Henry Mechanical to Address Air Conditioner Odors
Bad smells make any home a less inviting place, so don’t let musty odors be ignored. For odors and any other HVAC issues, contact the pros at Henry Mechanical today. We can handle all maintenance, repair, and installation issues for your AC and other areas of your home, and we’re always happy to help our neighbors in NorCal make their homes a better place.

 

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