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Air Conditioning Checking

AC Smells Like Mold

Updated: Feb 10, 2023

As a Florida homeowner, there’s nothing quite like coming home on a hot day and feeling that cool blast of air from your AC. But if your air conditioning system is emitting a moldy, musty, or mildew smell, it can be a challenge to relax. A moldy smell coming from the AC vents is an all-too-familiar issue that homeowners deal with, but luckily, the problem is usually easy to diagnose and remedy. Read on to learn three reasons your AC smells like mold.


Girl Closing Nose from Bad Smell


1. The Drain Pan Is Clogged

When working properly, the drain pan helps to remove excess water (condensation) from within your air conditioning system. As condensation builds up within your AC, a line drains the moisture to the outside of your home and into the drain pan. However, over time the drain pan can become clogged, which can cause excess water to build up within your system.

As we all know, excess water where it shouldn’t be means one thing: mold. As mold builds up within your AC, a musty smell can emit from your air conditioning system each time it kicks on. If you suspect this is the issue, don’t fret just yet. You can easily unclog the drain line yourself with our helpful guide: How to Unclog Your AC Drain Line.


2. The Air Ducts Have Moisture Trapped Within Them

Sometimes, even if your drain line isn’t clogged, moisture can still build up within your air conditioning system. This is largely thanks to our geographical location, which as you know, makes for a humid climate year round. Humidity can increase the amount of condensation and subsequent moisture within the crevices of your AC (such as the air ducts and air vents), which can contribute to mold growth. If you think this may be contributing to the moldy smell in your home, we recommend having your air ducts professionally cleaned.


3. Your AC System Is the Wrong Size for Your Home

Investing in an air conditioning system that is too big isn’t necessarily better. Unfortunately, lots of homeowners think a bigger AC means better cooling. But if your air conditioning system is too big for your home, it will interrupt the cycles your AC goes through when trying to cool down your home. Moreover, it will also affect how well your AC removes moisture from your home. As a result, you may find your home always feels a little too humid for your liking and is subject to mold. If you think your AC may be the wrong size for your home, contact the HVAC professionals at Energy Air for an inspection.


AC Service In Orlando, FL

You rely on your air conditioning system to keep your home comfortable. Don’t let an underlying issue with your AC cause your home to smell bad. At Energy Air, we offer comprehensive HVAC services to central Florida home and business owners and can help you with whatever AC problem you’re facing. Call us today to see how we can help.

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Whether you need a single air conditioning unit installed or a complete air conditioning system retrofit, our team of HVAC experts will handle it. Have questions or would like to discuss your project? Give us a call today to talk to one of our friendly team members, or schedule your appointment online.

Orlando: (407) 501-6275 | Tampa: (813) 314-7261

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