Why Does My A/C Smell Bad?Many homeowners take advantage of window air conditioners to save money on electric bills, cool down areas of their homes that the central air unit doesn’t reach, or make their room cold enough to be able to use a blanket at night. A window air conditioner can be useful for all the reasons listed above, but when dust, water, and heat are combined, they provide the perfect environment for mold and mildew growth if no annual maintenance is performed. Where Did That Mildew Smell Come From?There are several possible reasons for that musty stink: Window air conditioners have a drip tray that is a necessary component of the system. This collection of water, along with heat and dust, allow for some pretty nasty “muck” to collect over time. The smell associated with this stuff is best described as being sour, moldy, or mildewy. If there's a drainage problem, water may have pooled and mildew may have grown on the filter, condenser coil, or somewhere else inside.

If the mold is black (Stachybotrys), it's toxic, and you'll want to get rid of it as quickly and thoroughly as possible. I've outlined some steps below that people take to remove the smell, but it’s always best to refer to any literature that came with the window air conditioner at the time of purchase. WARNING: Most window units are pressurized systems and have a charged capacitor that could cause a shock, so at no time should a homeowner remove anything other than the case, which exposes the internal components of the window air unit. advanced air duct cleaning reviewsDoing anything other than removing the case may result in personal injury.air purifiers for cat hair Seven Steps to Get Your AC Smelling Righthow to clean mold out of air ducts

Step One: Remove the Case from the UnitOn smaller window air conditioners, remove the outer metal case of the unit. This should expose the coils, fan, and compressor. In a larger unit, after the front plastic and a few screws are removed, the air conditioner will slide out of the case toward the inside of the room. Be careful not to damage the metal fins on the front and rear of the unit. These are made from aluminum and will bend easily. Step Two: Take It OutsideChoose a location outside where a hose can be used, such as a driveway. Place the window air conditioner on something secure such as a couple of saw horses or a secure table of some kind. The table or saw horses will be exposed to water and bleach, so choose something appropriate for this task. For larger air conditioners, an assistant may be required to lift the unit. Step Three: Remove DustBlow the unit off with compressed air from a distance sufficient to remove dust and debris, but be careful not to damage any components or blow too hard on the aluminum fins.

Wipe off any surface dust or debris with a damp cloth. Step Four: Clean the Fins Using a soft brush such as the type used to remove lint from a dryer vent, stroke the fins up and down to remove debris caked on to the front and rear of the air conditioning unit. Step Five: Clean the Vent and BlowerFill a spray bottle approximately ¼ full of bleach and fill the rest with water. Spray directly into the area where the cool air blows out of the air conditioner. Be sure to get plenty of the solution into the blower fan while turning it slowly. Once the bottle is empty, refill with water and spray in the same area. The goal here is to clean the area with bleach and water, then flush the bleach out with water. Step Six: Flush Tray With WaterUsing a hose, flush all the muck and debris out of the drip tray. Do not spray in the tray. The goal here is to use enough water to flush out the debris, but not to use much pressure. Pressurized water will damage the window air conditioner components.

Flushing for several minutes is usually enough to sufficiently clean things up. Step Seven: Let It Dry Allow the unit to dry for a few hours. Inspect it closely for any damage or debris. Wipe up any remaining water with a dry cloth and wipe down any surfaces that still need cleaning. Step Eight: ReassembleReassemble the case in the reverse order and slide unit back into the case that it was removed from. This should be enough to remove the smell from the window air conditioner. These steps should be taken at the end of every warm season. The window unit should be stored in a clean, dry location over the cool fall and winter months. What best describes the smell when you turn on your window air conditioner? Sour Musty FoulSee results without votingCleaning up expired food, smelly trash and even clogged sinks just doesn’t compare to the grossness of getting rid of musty, scuzzy mold. This fungus has a serious ick factor. Maybe it’s the sliminess that makes it so revolting?

Or, perhaps it’s the whole ‘growing’ thing? Either way, you need to get it rid of mold and mildew for your health, and to prevent damages to your home. Mold and mildew can pose serious health risks to you, your family and your pets. Mold has been linked to respiratory problems, allergic reactions and even depression. Mold also aggravates symptoms for those who have allergies and asthma. And, even worse than the mold you can see in the corner of your shower are mold spores, the substances that come off of mold clusters. These are invisible to the naked eye and fill your indoor air with toxins. Find out how to stop mold and mildew from invading your house and how to get rid of these scummy substances if they crop up. If you want to thwart these musty houseguests from sticking around, keep your home dry. Mold loves warm, humid areas, like bathrooms or a damp basement. To stop mold from forming, try these tips: You don’t need to grab the bleach to get rid of mold, and you can also skip those noxious conventional cleaners in store aisles that claim to remove mold.

These cleaners often contain harsh acids and chlorine bleach. “Cleaning” with these chemicals will just release toxins into the air, not to mention the unknown health hazards if those products come into contact with your skin. Instead, kill the mold in your home for good with natural methods. For small mold problems, these three natural cleaners will work. Kill mold for cheap! You can clean your home from top to bottom with plain white vinegar, and that includes killing mold. As a naturally antimicrobial substance, vinegar will solve your mold problems. Simply fill a spray bottle with vinegar straight up. Spritz the vinegar directly on the moldy spots in your home. Let the vinegar sit for a while and then wipe away the vinegar, mold and all. As a natural fungicide, tea tree oil can eliminate your nasty mold or mildew problems. Plus, it will fill your home with a lovely medicinal scent. Simply add 10 drops of tea tree oil to a spray bottle and fill it with water. Spray the mixture on moldy problem areas.