Why Does My Air Conditioner Stink?

When temperatures climb, your air conditioner saves you and your family from sweltering. If your unit is blowing a bad smell, as well as cool air into your home, it is time to perform maintenance.

Causes

If your air conditioner is blowing a musty, earthy odor, then the cause of the stink is mold growing inside the air conditioning unit. If the bad smell is more like cigarette smoke, skunk odor or strong cooking smells, then the problem is in your air filters. The air filters not only trap dust, but also absorb strong odors.

Solutions

Clean the mold out of your air conditioning unit. It grows on the coil, so use a solution of equal parts bleach and water to remove. If the smell is coming from your air filters, replacing them will eradicate the smell.

Prevention

Make sure your air conditioning unit properly drains moisture, so mold does not recur. This makes the coil a less attractive place for mold to grow. Replacing your air filters regularly will prevent bad odor buildup.

References

• "The Red Book"; Patrick Allen Johnston; 2005