Does your AC unit produce a funky or otherwise unpleasant odor when it’s running?
Known as dirty sock syndrome – because of the odor’s uncanny resemblance to dirty socks – it’s a common problem encountered by homeowners.
While some homeowners may simply try to mask the bad odor with air fresheners or scented candles, a more effective solution is to find and treat the underlying problem.
Dirty Sock Syndrome Explained
The term “dirty sock syndrome” refers to a phenomenon in which an AC unit produces bad odors because of the presence of mold, mildew, and bacteria. Microorganisms such as these are all around us.
They are most common, however, in moist or damp environments. Because the evaporator coil of an AC unit collects moisture, it’s often a source of mold, mildew and bacteria buildup.
If your AC unit’s evaporator coil produces an excessive amount of moisture without draining properly, it may lead to dirty sock syndrome.
The moist environment of the evaporator coil, as well as the surrounding area in which it’s located, encourages the growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria.
As these microorganisms reproduce, they’ll create bad odors that spread throughout your home.
Clean the Drain Pan and Line
To treat dirty sock syndrome, you should clean the drain pan and line underneath your AC unit’s evaporator coil.
Evaporator coils work by removing heat from the air. During this process, they collect moisture as well.
Normally, the collected moisture will drip into a pan below the evaporator coil, at which point gravity will pull it into a drain line where it’s guided to outside your home.
If either the drain pan or line is clogged, though, moisture will accumulate while simultaneously increasing the risk of dirty sock syndrome.
You can clean the drain pan and line by pouring 1 cup of bleach into it. The bleach should dissolve any buildup, allowing moisture to drain freely.
Clean the Evaporator Coil
In addition to cleaning the drain pan and line, you should also clean your AC unit’s evaporator coil if it’s producing a bad odor.
If the evaporator coil itself is dirty, odor-causing germs will grow on it. With that said, you should contact a professional heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) company rather than attempting to clean a dirty evaporator coil yourself.
HVAC companies have the tools, skills and experience needed to properly clean evaporator coils so that they don’t cause or contribute to bad odors.
If you are experiencing a problem with a smelly A/C, call us at 512-336-1431 to schedule an appointment. We’ll be glad to come out and take a look at the issue.
1431-183 A/C & Heating proudly serves Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Leander, Liberty Hill, and North Austin.
CommentThank you so much for explaining the “Dirty Sock Syndrome” and how it could be a potentially dangerous buildup of mildew. We recently experienced a smell like this at home and could not figure out where it was coming from, but I became suspicious of it since I noticed we smell it only when we turn our AC on. If our AC does have mold around it, I better find an HVAC contractor that can get rid of it and fix any parts that might be causing this.