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Believe it or not, sometimes an air conditioner can exude a pretty foul odor that perplexes its owner. After all, air conditioners only cool air and reduce the humidity levels a little bit, how can that result in a strange or unpleasant odor?
Well, the truth is a bit more complicated than your air conditioner just “producing” a foul odor. Some odors can be caused by things like mold throughout your home, but other times there can be mold growing right inside of your air conditioner which causes it to produce a bad smell. This is what we’re going to talk about today.
If you think your home would do better with an odor-eliminating air purifier, then you can call our team right now to get one installed. Otherwise, if you think the odor is coming from your air conditioner, then keep reading. We’ll discuss why you might need professional AC service in Kalispell, MT.
Where the Smell Comes From
First, we want to tell you that the smell could definitely be coming from your air conditioner. In fact, while many homeowners get used to the smell or think it’s just a natural part of air conditioning, this is far from the truth. Air conditioners are just supposed to cycle through the air in your home, which means that if there’s a foul odor coming from the vents in your house, something is wrong with the system itself.
This problem starts with humidity. In order for foul odors to come about, either through mold or mildew, we need moisture. Your air conditioner doesn’t really use water, but it does drain out condensate from the air. This is where our journey begins when trying to figure out what went wrong.
A Condensate Drain Clog
When your AC system cools the air in your home, it also removes the humidity from the air. This is what makes your home not only cool, but more comfortable on those hot, humid days. When the moisture from the atmosphere condenses along the coils of the air conditioner, it falls down by way of gravity into a drain that then sends it outside of your home. Well, this is the best-case scenario.
In some instances, that drain can get clogged from years of use and the growth of mold. Since it’s dark and damp inside of that drain, it can be a haven for mold to start growing if it’s not flushed during routine maintenance appointments.
When the condensate drain clogs, standing water begins to sit in your air conditioner and that causes more mold or mildew to grow. This is where the odor is coming from.
A Problem That Needs to Be Addressed
Unfortunately, you can’t just get a bunch of paper towels and some household cleaner to fix this. The condensate drain needs to be cleared and perhaps even fixed by a professional before the mold can be stopped at its source. Otherwise, your air conditioner is going to continue to smell off and your quality of life will deteriorate.
To have this problem addressed, call Bill’s Superheat, Inc. Here to Save the Day!