AC Odor Removal

It’s no secret, Air Conditioners sometimes smell!

You turn on the AC and get hit in the face with a foul odor. It’s worse than the last time you left wet clothes in the washing machine for days!

Why does this happen?

Whenever the AC is operating, it not only cools, it dehumidifies the air.  The moisture in the air condenses on cold surfaces inside the evaporator case. Most of this moisture drains harmlessly out of the system through the AC drain tube.

However, some of the moisture remains on surfaces after the AC shuts down. This lingering moisture combines with pollutants and microscopic contaminants that are naturally present in the air. The growth of these often occurs behind the dash, in the vents and in the evaporator case.  The more humidity, the worse it gets.   This causes an unpleasant odor.  If the AC is not used as often then this can also cause the growth of bacteria and mold.

The next time you turn on the AC system, you will encounter this musty odor.

What steps can you take to solve the problem?

One way to solve the problem is to keep your AC unit as dry as possible by running it with the compressor off shortly before you arrive at your destination. This will allow some of the condensed water to drain off the AC evaporator surfaces and accelerate the drying process.

Most of today’s vehicles have cabin air filters typically located behind the glove compartment or under the hood or dashboard. Its job is to filter all of the air that comes through the car’s HVAC system to prevent pollutants, such as dust, pollen, smog and mold spores from entering the passenger compartment.  If dirty, the filter can be full of mold, bacteria and other odor producing microorganisms which, during AC operation, forces the smell into the vehicle through the air intake.  Follow Manufacturer’s recommendations found in your owner’s manual or check with your service professional to replace the cabin air filter in order to prevent excess dust and mold from entering the vehicle.

Tips for preventing air conditioner odor: avoid parking under trees to reduce the possibility of leaves entering the air intake; use the fresh air setting on your climate control rather than the recirculated air setting whenever possible to allow the evaporator to dry out and drive on paved roads whenever feasible as dust may accelerate the condition.

Consult your local LEAKPRO® Representative.  LEAKPRO® has the knowledge, the tools and the proprietary products to eliminate the odor, not just mask it for a few weeks.  LEAKPRO® uses various techniques and chemicals which are EPA rated and safe for the environment.

For the following smells see your Professional Service Provider Immediately;

Gas Smell

If you smell gas every time you turn on your car’s AC system, your car may have a gas leak. When you turn on your AC unit, the gas smell can be brought into the vehicle through the fresh air intake. You need to repair the leak. There are several areas where your service professional can check for a gas leak, including inspecting the fuel pressure regulator of the engine. They can also check the fuel injector “O” rings in the engine compartment. It is advisable to check your exhaust system for any holes.

Sweet Smell

If the cooling system in your car smells sweet, then you should have your AC system checked immediately. The sweet smell is often caused by the toxic liquid, ethylene glycol (coolant). This smell is the result of a leak in the cooling system. The leak can originate in the heater core, pipe or hose, coolant housing unit or radiator.