How to Deal with Musty Smell in Car Air Conditioning?
3 Answers
Methods to handle musty smell in car air conditioning: 1. Park the car under sunlight, set the air conditioning system to warm air mode, turn the fan to maximum, and maintain for 10 minutes; 2. Place scented products or bamboo charcoal items in the car; 3. Replace the car air conditioning filter; 4. Clean the air conditioning filter with cleaning agent; 5. Clean the evaporator box. Maintenance methods for car air conditioning: 1. Regularly check the refrigerant and freezing oil; 2. Clean the surface of the condenser; 3. Clean the surface of the evaporator. The car air conditioning device, referred to as car air conditioning, is composed of a refrigeration system, heating system, ventilation and air purification device, and control system.
The most common cause of musty smell in air conditioning is mold growth due to accumulated water in the evaporator. Here's how I handle it myself: Park the car in a ventilated area, close the doors and windows, turn on the AC at maximum cooling setting, buy a disinfectant cleaner and spray it into the air intake vent, then let the AC run for 5 minutes to kill the mold. After that, switch to hot air mode for a few minutes to dry any remaining moisture. Replace the air filter with a new one - this is inexpensive to do yourself. Before turning off the engine after driving, switch to external circulation mode and let it run for 2 minutes to prevent moisture buildup. If the musty smell persists, it's recommended to visit a repair shop for a thorough atomized cleaning of the evaporator. Regular maintenance of the AC system can prevent recurring issues.
My car's AC always had a weird smell, and I later found out it was due to a dirty filter or mold buildup in the evaporator. I make it a habit to change the filter every month—I opt for activated carbon ones as they're great at absorbing odors and easy to install myself. Before turning on the AC, I open the windows for a few dozen seconds to let in fresh air and clear out any stale odors. Occasionally, I spray some specialized AC cleaning foam into the vents, then run the system for a few minutes to circulate it—this makes a big difference in cleanliness. I've also adjusted my driving habits; keeping the windows closed and recirculating air for too long can trap moisture and encourage mold. These simple steps have significantly reduced that unpleasant odor.