Why does my car stink when I turn off the AC?
Your A/C Smells Like Mildew or Mold As your vehicle ages, bacteria can grow in the system where moisture typically collects — particularly on the A/C’s evaporator. When this happens, a pungent, mildew-like smell can get blasted into your cabin through your A/C vents.
Why does it smell bad when I turn my AC on?
Dust, hair, and moisture on the AC filter encourage mildew growth, which can cause a musty odor when the air conditioner runs. This is a likely reason why the air conditioner smells when first turned on if you don’t use forced-air heating in winter. To help prevent this odor, clean or replace the filter in the spring.
How do I stop my car AC from smelling?
How to Prevent Musty, Mildew Smells from Car AC
- Turn off the AC 2-5 minutes before you shut off your vehicle but leave the fan on.
- Clean or replace your AC filters.
- Spray an antiseptic into the exterior air vents (where your car pulls air from outside into the car from).
Is it normal for AC to smell?
After a season of lying dormant, it’s expected—even common—to notices some strange smells emanating from your air conditioner. The most common smell is dust. That’s completely normal. After sitting for months, dust will accumulate in your system and the AC just needs to burn everything off.
How to get rid of bad smell from car air conditioner?
These micro-organisms cause the bad smell that’s released every time you turn on the A/C. The only way to get rid of bad smells in your car’s air conditioning is with a spray that can be found, in a variety of different brands, in any specialist shop.
Why does the air coming through my a / C vents smell bad?
If you notice strange smells coming from the air vents, there’s a problem. The actual nature of that problem will depend on what you’re smelling. If you’re smelling a musty/moldy smell (think dirty socks), then what you’re smelling is mildew growing in the system.
Why does my AC smell like stagnant water?
When stagnant water collects within your AC, it can cause a mildewy scent to permeate through the vents every time your system kicks on. The solution: You can fix this smelly problem by cleaning the drain pipewithin your AC system.
Why does my air conditioner have a sweet smell?
The sweet smell is often the cause of toxic liquid ethylene glycol or antifreeze. This smell is the result of a leak in the cooling system. The leak can come from the heater core, pipe or hose, coolant housing unit, or the radiator.