Reasons Your Air Conditioner Smells Musty

During hot summer days, you resort to your AC for cooler temperatures. However, a musty smell that sometimes accompanies the cold air from the unit can be displeasing. Besides creating an unpleasant atmosphere, musty smells indicate an underlying system malfunction. At this point, you should engage the services of an AC repair technician for a diagnosis of the problem. They will examine your unit, ascertain the source of the smell and remedy it to restore your home's air quality. Read on to learn the possible reasons why your unit smells musty. 

Clogged Drain Line

The AC uses the drain line to channel water from the drip pan. With time, grime may build up in the condensate line, causing a water backup. Consequently, fungi and mildew will grow in these moist conditions, spreading musty smells across your home. In this case, you should contact an AC repair technician to clean the unit, ensuring effective drainage. Moreover, they may replace the drip pan if it is too small to handle the condensate formed in the unit.

Dirty Air Filters

Seeing that air filters remove airborne particulates entering the system, they may clog with debris over time. This impedes airflow to the AC, causing the evaporator coils to freeze as the cold refrigerant circulates. As a result, the coils provide excellent spots for mold to thrive, causing a musty smell. In this case, hire an AC repair professional to clean your air filters if they are washable. If not, they will replace them with identical filters and thaw the ice on the coils to ensure effective heat exchange.

Leaky Ducts

The ducts experience constant temperature changes as air travels through them. Over time, the ductwork may deteriorate from frequent expansion and contraction, causing it to leak. Consequently, moisture will enter the ducts, creating damp spots for mold to grow. Because of that, you'll experience musty smells across your home. After inspecting the system, your AC repair technician will seal the holes in the ductwork.

Full Drip Pan

The drain pan collects moisture from the dehumidification process beneath the air handler. Over time, this pan might degrade due to aging, causing water to stagnate. As a result, mold and mildew will grow in these spots and spread a stale smell throughout your house. Essentially, you should hire an AC repair contractor to clean your drip pan periodically. And if the pan is old, they will replace it to prevent water accumulation or leakages.

Mold and mildew may spread their spores in your home, potentially causing respiratory infections. Thus, you should schedule regular appointments with an AC expert to service your unit. That way, you will address issues that create unwelcomed odors in your home in good time.

Contact a local air conditioning repair service to learn more.