What’s That Funky Smell?

Bad smells in air conditioners may be caused by a number of things, including:

• Mould or fungal growth
• Odours outside that are brought in through the air conditioner
• Dead animals in or around the air conditioner
• Bacterial build up on the coils

The first of these problems, mould or fungal growth is easily the most common and is easily remedied with a professional clean.

A blocked drain pipe can cause water to build up in your air conditioning unit, not only will it encourage mould growth it can cause far more damage if it’s not taken care of in time. Regularly cleaning and servicing your air conditioner will help you to prevent this.

If you suspect that the smell might be from a dead animal, you can first check outside to see if you can identify the gruesome source. Many times the culprit has been a dead animal inside the unit and this can be removed by a technician during a professional clean.

Some odours, particularly those drawn in from outside the house or those that have been ‘lurking’ in your air conditioner while it’s been turned off, may eventually be blown out of the system. Keep the area well ventilated and keep people out of the room for at least 30 minutes.

If the unit has been standing idol for a very long time and wasn’t cleaned at the end of the season, it is advised to have a professional clean before turning the unit on. More than just dust can build up over time, leaving you and your family open to illness caused by a build up of bacteria and mould.

Your best option to alleviate any of these situations is to book in for a professional air conditioner clean every 6 months and clean your filters every 2 months. A little bit of maintenance will not only protect your well being, it will also save you money by helping the unit to run more efficiently.