After a day outside in the hot weather, the cold air from the vents in the HVAC feels so great. It dries your sweat, cools you down, and the temperature in your body drops back to normal. However, you start to smell something in your home coming from the vent. How to get rid of the musty smell of HVAC? Mold growth in the ductwork due to a dirty evaporator coil is likely. Also, check the air filter.
Let’s take a look at solutions for how to clean the HVAC.
Why Not Check The Evaporator Coil
Believe it or not, the evaporator coil plays many roles in your AC unit’s success or failure. The biggest issue regarding an evaporator coil is ensuring that it stays clean throughout the life of the AC unit. Like most items in your home that get dirty and have a high moisture content, mold can grow. Keep in mind, that if mold grows, musty smells will follow. Make sure to clean your AC evaporator coil. Let’s take a look at how we can do that:
- Use a solution of 10% bleach and water so that you can kill off the mold that is present. If you want to play it safe, purchase a coil system cleaner at your local hardware store.
- Remove the access panel to expose the fins of your condenser coil.
- Take a shop vac and use your attachment brush to suck off any dust and debris that has built up on your evaporator coils.
- Don’t be afraid to straighten out any evaporator coil fins that are bent. Use a flat-head screwdriver to successfully do this.
- Once this is done, spray the bleach/water solution onto the evaporator coils and then wipe them down.
- As you have completed this project, reattach any parts that have been removed to give you access to the coils.
What If My Condensate Drain Line Is Clogged
It’s crazy to think that such a small unit like your HVAC unit has so many working parts. If any one of those parts has some sort of issue, the entire energy efficiency of your system can be thrown for a loop. All of the excess water that forms on your evaporator coil has to go somewhere. Otherwise, you would have a flooded house. So, as the condensation drops into your pan, it heads straight for the drain line.
If the AC unit drain line gets clogged, there is nowhere for the water to go. Now it sits as a puddle and becomes a perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew to form. Just take your shop vac attachment to the drain line and suck out all of the excess water. This allows you to pour some cleaner down the line and loosen up the excess buildup. The process is very similar to pouring a liquid cleaner down your shower drain to unclog it.
What About My Air Filter
Replacing the air filter is important for regular ac maintenance. If you fail to replace the ac filter on a regular basis, it could cause many issues within your HVAC system. Be sure to keep a log of when to replace your ac filter. It is recommended that you replace it once every three months. This keeps the smells and odors from traveling throughout your home.
What Is Another Smell Alternative
If you haven’t figured it out already, the use of baking soda can solve a lot of odor issues. Often times homeowners will place an open box of baking soda in their fridge or pantry, and in this case in your air ducts. If you have foul odors, the baking soda will trap them as the odors travel throughout. Also, don’t be afraid to place duct filter pads throughout your ductwork. They are great at absorbing excess smells.
How Can I Prevent This Smell
The best way to prevent any musty smell from coming from your air conditioner is by conducting a routine cleaning. This will clean your air, clean the filter, and create a better air quality within your central air. You will also notice that your air conditioning unit will not produce a musty odor and keep your indoor air quality at a high level.
Other Recommended Maintenance
Now that you know about the mold smell from the HVAC, let’s take a look at some areas of maintenance.
One of those is the maintenance of the HVAC unit. Spring maintenance is always a good idea but really maintenance, when you can, is best. This includes cleaning the condensing unit, condensation line, and air filter.
Another area is knowing about your home insurance. Many people wonder if home insurance covers HVAC. It only does in uncontrollable circumstances such as fire, water, vandalism, or lightning to name a few.
Lastly, it is important to know how long an HVAC lasts. They last about 10-15 years but can be longer or shorter depending on where you live if you use chemicals in the machine and if you live in a coastal town to name a few.
When Do I Call A Professional
If you are having a hard time cleaning the unit, it may be time to call a professional. If you smell something off regarding your HVAC system, you should call out a professional. There are many reasons why the HVAC could have a musty smell circulating in your home. Always remember, that you could have dead rodents or other smell-related organisms such as mold in your air ducts.
The only way to know for sure is to contact an HVAC service technician to inspect your system. If you aren’t sure who to call, reach out to your local home inspection team to inspect the entire HVAC system and inform you of their findings. Also, they can refer you to a reputable HVAC repair or service technician.
Conclusion
Creating a regular maintenance plan for your HVAC system could take some time. If the system is older, you might not have as much success with conducting the standard maintenance of the HVAC system. Making sure that you cover the basics of HVAC maintenance is key to the longevity of the system. Consider reaching out to your local home inspection team so that they can inspect your HVAC unit and inform you of some recommended maintenance. Call on Boggs Inspection Services to get a home inspection of your HVAC set up, completed in the Lacey, WA, and surrounding areas
