Why Does My Car AC Smell: Solve The Smelly Problem For Good
One of the least pleasant things that happen when you turn your car AC on is a bad smell coming from the vent. The car is usually with windows closed, which makes things even worse, leaving you wondering why does my car AC smell, but that doesn’t have to be a constant problem. There’s usually one culprit for this problem and you can quickly fix it.
So, why does my car AC smell? Your car AC smell due to the bacteria and mold that grow inside the AC. This area of your car is dark and damp, which is the perfect place for this. There’s also the chance that it might be a gas leak or just dirt, but 9 out of 10 times it’ll be bacteria and mold. Since this is not only unpleasant but also harmful to your health, you should clean the AC properly.
The good news is that you’re going to learn how to clean your car AC the right way here. It’s simple and easy, but you’ll need to do it the right way. If you don’t, you can damage the car or just end up with a still dirty AC system.
So, make sure to stay until the end to find out not only why your car AC smells and how to clean it but also the #1 mistake car owners make that can ruin your AC system.
The Car AC Is Damp And Dark Inside Which Is Perfect For Bacteria And Mold To Grow
Inside your car, AC is the perfect environment for microorganisms to grow such as mold and bacteria. When left uncleaned and unchecked, this area can foster the type of microorganisms that are not only unpleasant to have around but also dangerous for your health. That’s why you need to clean the inside of the AC system. It’ll not only get rid of the smell but the microorganisms as well.
Now, the best that you can do is clean and do the maintenance of the car AC system within the timeframe. If you continue reading below, you’ll learn about what specific products you can use for that. For now, you should focus on the fact that you have to make what’s the perfect environment for mold and bacteria, a hostile place for them.
So, the best that you can do is to take the AC system filters out and clean it. You can use a cloth and the right cleaning product for car AC. The DWD2 Clean Air 3 Stage A/C is the #1 recommendation by car owners. You can check it out on Amazon here. Just make sure you clean the AC regularly.
You Can Kill It With Disinfectant Spray
The main reason why you want to get rid of the bad smell is that it’s unpleasant, but the main reason why you should get rid of it, it’s because it can be harmful to your health. The chemicals that bacteria and mold produce that generates the bad smell is not good for humans to breathe in. That’s why it smells bad for you. It’s a defensive mechanism of our bodies.
Now, the best way to fix this is to kill them while cleaning the AC. Only when it’s completely cleaned that you’re going to experience the lack of bad smell. The best and easiest way to do this is with a disinfectant spray. It’s made specifically for this. All you have to do is to spray the product on the vent outside of the car. That’s where the air is pushed in from by the AC. Then, you take the inside part of the AC to clean that as well.
This will be enough to kill the bacteria and the mold. Just make sure that you remove everything. The DWD2 Clean AIR Premium Automotive Foaming is an amazing disinfectant spray for car AC. It kills bacteria and mold, and it leaves a good smell behind. Make sure to check it out on Amazon here.
There’s A Chance That It Might Be A Gas Leak
This is not likely since most of the time when you experience the bad smell, the problem is with bacteria and mold. But there’s a chance that the problem is a gas leak. In this case, you’re more likely to experience a sweet smell coming from the vent. In this case, you need to take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible since this is dangerous.
Now, if the smell is just unpleasant. It pretty much stinks, then your problem is mold and bacteria. A simple way to be sure is to take out the inside part of the AC that has the filter. If it’s clean, then it isn’t a microorganism causing the smell. But if you haven’t cleaned it in a while or maybe even ever, it’s probably that.
So, just confirm that it isn’t a gas leak since this can be a much worse problem to fix. If the smell stinks, it’s likely bacteria and mold. If it’s sweet in an unpleasant way, it can be a gas leak.
The Air Conditioner Might Just Be Filthy
It’s not all the time that you will remove the AC filter and find something so dirty that you’ll be sure that it’s bacteria and mold. Sometimes it’s only dusty. Still, the best solution is to clean it with the spray and make sure that it’s ready to use. The point is that it might just be regular dirt and not mold. But you should clean it anyway.
Once you’re done with the spray and finished the whole thing, consider using a scented spray in the car to make it smell good. The disinfectant spray will make the car odorless but adding a good scent can be a good idea. Everyone loves the smell of a new car and of a clean one too.
So, consider adding a scented spray to the car. You use those that attach themselves to the AC They’re great to create a nice atmosphere in the car. The Febreze Car Unstopables Air Freshener is the #1 recommendation from car owners. It has a good smell and great durability. Get yours from Amazon here.
Once You Make Sure Everything Is Clean Turn On The AC With The Windows Open
A nice tip that a lot of people forget is that once you’ve used the disinfectant spray and cleaned the AC, it’s a great idea to turn on the AC with the windows open for a while. This will allow fresh air to circulate in the car removing any residue of the smelly air that was in there.
All you have to do is to let the AC on for 15 minutes with the windows open. This is the secret tip and final touch that most people neglect. This will also allow the smell of the disinfectant, which can irritate people’s airways, to go away. Once you’ve done that, you can add the scented spray.
So, make sure that you leave the windows open with the AC on for a while. This is the final touch that’ll make sure your car air conditioner is clean and ready to be used in your next drive to the grocery store.
Depending On How Old Is Your Car Consider Changing The AC Filter
If you clean the AC, and it doesn’t take too long for the bad smell to come back, the problem might be in the filter. It’s not doing its job of retaining the dirt in the air. A broken filter is terrible because this means that the air quality isn’t improving with the AC on.
What you’ll have to do is change the AC filter. This is the case, of course, if you’ve cleaned the AC in less than a month and is already presenting a bad smell every time you turn it on. Now, most of the time you can fix it with a scented spray to improve not only the smell but the air quality as well.
So, consider changing the AC filter and also using scented sprays to make your life easier while you don’t do it. The Chemical Guys AIR_300 is another great option to make your car smell better and not cause you to sneeze every time you breathe. Grab yours on Amazon here.
Clean The AC Every Month
The final tip is to clean the AC every month. This is a general tip, and it might change depending on your usage of your car. If you use it too much or too little, it’ll be more time or the same. The every-month rule will be enough for anybody that uses the AC all the time.
Since only you know this information, you can figure out by paying attention to how often the AC presents a bad smell after you’ve cleaned it.
So, as a rule of thumb, clean it every month. If you barely use the AC, maybe you can make it 45 days to 2 months. It’ll all depend on your daily usage.
Final Thoughts
So, that’s why your car AC smells. 9 out of 10 the problem is bacteria and mold. All you need to do is to clean it with disinfectant spray and use scented products to add a final touch.
