After a while of smelling a musty scent from your air conditioner, you might start to wonder what is causing the smell. Is it fine to leave the smell alone? The longer you leave it, the more intense it gets. Plus, a musty smell from any appliance or in any part of your home usually indicates a moisture issue and mold and mildew growth. Before the problem spreads, have your HVAC professional fix it. Chances are, they will find one of these four causes at the root of the smell.
1. Leaking Air Conditioner
Air conditioners create moisture while they work. They are supposed to drain this moisture through the drain line and safely out through your home’s sewers. However, if the drain line has come loose or has a leak in it, the moisture ends up on the wall or floor near your air conditioner. The moisture allows mold and mildew to grow, which is the source of the smell. You’ll need to get the line fixed and get the mold cleaned up to resolve the smell.
2. Drain Pan Mold
Certain kinds of air conditioners have pans to hold moisture in. If this pan can’t drain properly, it may develop mold. In unusual conditions, they may also grow mold even if they are draining properly. Maybe you had a flood, and the house has a lot of mold spores? In this case, cleaning the leftover mold from the air conditioner’s drain pan will resolve the smell.
Are you noticing a musty smell from your AC Unit? You can get rid of it. Call the professionals at Cedarwood Heating & Cooling today to schedule an appointment.
3. Air Filter Issues
Mold and mildew can also grow in the air conditioner’s filter if it hasn’t been changed out recently. It may be full of dust, pet hair, and other debris that creates a comfortable home for the mold. This problem can be especially annoying because the filter infuses your cool air with the mildew smell, carrying it far across the house. Luckily, the solution is simply to get the filter changed and have your HVAC professional change it on a regular schedule. How often will depend on your air conditioner and the air quality in your home.
4. Musty Air Ducts
Lastly, that must smell may be coming from the air ducts themselves. Much like filters, air ducts collect a thin film of dust and debris, but it grows over time. After a few years, it can be inches thick, and mold may grow in it. You can get an HVAC professional to clean out your ducts, remove the mold and the other debris your air ducts are spreading through your home. You should only need an air duct cleaning every few years.
Have unusual odors coming from your air conditioner? Don’t know what is the problem? Contact an experienced and licensed residential HVAC technician from Cedarwood Heating & Cooling to examine your system today!
