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How to get rid of the smell in the air conditioner

Today, almost all residential and office premises are equipped with air conditioning systems. They provide a comfortable temperature, and like any equipment, they require periodic maintenance. Bad smell from the air conditioner is a common cause of improper maintenance of air conditioning equipment. In no case should it be ignored, as this can adversely affect the health of those who are in the room. It is necessary to find out why it stinks from a household or industrial unit, and promptly fix the problem.

Why air conditioner stinks: reasons

When the split system is in operation, condensation forms during the cooling of warm air. It is collected in a special container and discharged through a drainage tube. A warm and humid environment creates favorable conditions for the vital activity of various microorganisms, bacteria, fungi. The consequence of their development is the appearance of a bad sour smell from the home air conditioner, which is eliminated only by cleaning the equipment. Otherwise, microbes can provoke a deterioration in well-being, the development of diseases.

Another reason for the appearance of an unpleasant smell from the air conditioner is the accumulation of aromas present in the apartment. Not all climatic devices produce air intake from the street, some operate in recirculation mode. As a result, all the smells in the room are accumulated and given back by the unit, only in a more saturated, concentrated form.

In some devices, condensate is not removed to the street, but to the sewer. If the siphon failed or was not initially installed to drain moisture into the sewer, unpleasant odors will soon fill the room, which will certainly create discomfort for its inhabitants.

What is the dangerous smell that appears when you turn on the split system

Especially often the stench appears during the operation of the split system after a long break. The reason is that during the time that the installation was not working, bacteria, dust mites, etc., multiplied in it.

The smell from the air conditioner is not just an inconvenience, but also a danger to human health. The forced heavy stale air can provoke an exacerbation of chronic diseases, the emergence of new ones. The problem is hard tolerated by allergy sufferers, asthmatics, people with lung diseases.

It is especially dangerous if the air conditioner installed in a crowded place stinks. Due to untimely cleaning of filters, not only employees of supermarkets, shopping centers and institutions, but also ordinary visitors, especially children, risk their own health.

What to do to eliminate the smell from the air conditioner

Some types of climate control equipment have ozone and silver self-cleaning filters. But such security measures are provided in expensive units of leading companies. Therefore, many users continue to face the pressing question - how to remove the smell of vinegar, rot from a home or office air conditioner.

Before resorting to complex methods to eliminate an unpleasant odor, you should try the simplest one - clean the filters of the device. To do this, you need to carefully lift or remove the front panel from the indoor unit of the split system, remove the filters and wash them under warm running water. The most radical way to clean the air conditioner is its complete disassembly and mechanical cleaning.

If the owner of the equipment has the appropriate experience and tools, he can perform the procedure on his own, but it is better to entrust the process to specialized specialists.

Getting rid of the smell provides only cleaning the evaporator

Cleaning the evaporator can help to deal with the problem of unpleasant odor. The process consists in spraying special equipment near the unit operating in ventilation mode.

It takes about 15-20 minutes to disinfect the surface of the evaporator. At the same time, preventive cleaning of the working area of ​​the device is carried out. During the procedure, an antibacterial film is formed on the surfaces of the parts, which protects against the development of bacteria and the appearance of an unpleasant odor.

If the smell from the air conditioner is the result of stagnant processes, processing the unit with special equipment gives only a short-term effect. To obtain a more stable result, it is necessary to disassemble and wash the entire system.

Elimination of an unpleasant smell from the air conditioner by Dt servis specialists

The masters of the Dt servis service center will identify the cause of the unpleasant smell from the air conditioner, take the measures necessary to eliminate it, up to the complete disassembly of the equipment. In addition, the specialists of the center will tell you what to do for the primary prevention of the split system so that it works properly for as long as possible.

You can enter into a service contract with the company. The craftsmen will schedule the cleaning of air conditioners, perform the necessary repairs, and ensure the proper operation of the equipment throughout the season.

Practice shows that many owners of split systems are faced with such a problem as an unpleasant smell from the air conditioner, which occurs some time after its purchase. This, in turn, discourages all the desire to use the device. What is the reason for the occurrence of an unpleasant odor during operation?

Many people wonder why, when you turn on the air conditioner, there is an unpleasant smell? Moreover, regardless of when the split system was purchased (a few weeks ago, months or years), it can emit unpleasant “aromas”. There may be several reasons:

1. The device contains an accumulation of pathogenic bacteria and fungi that can develop in the condensate discharged to the street. This can cause an unpleasant odor, which the installation of a siphon will help to cope with.
2. The accumulation of odors in an apartment or house, which are pulled by the climatic device under certain modes, for example, when heated. So, if an unpleasant smell reigns in the room, then the device will also give it out. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the smell, ventilate your home daily. It should also be noted that new furniture, plastic, synthetics, etc. can also emit a specific odor.
3. Prolonged non-use of the split system. This is because during this time the water in the siphon has already dried up, which gives an unpleasant smell when the air conditioner is turned on. Then it is necessary to wait until the required volume of water is collected in the condenser. If the smell still bothers you, then it is better to consult a specialist. Since the device absorbs moist air from the room and releases it through itself, this is a favorable environment for the reproduction of various microorganisms and molds. In addition, dampness can be found in the apartment, and this may not be the best way to affect human health. The specialist will clean the insides of your air conditioner and treat the evaporator with a steam generator. This procedure is recommended to be carried out once a year, regardless of whether you feel an unpleasant odor or not.
4. Clogged drainage due to long-term non-use of the air conditioner in the winter. During this time, it can rot, which is why pathogenic bacteria appear. You will feel an unpleasant smell immediately after the first use. Then the indoor unit should be cleaned and disinfected.

In addition, the cause of an unpleasant smell in the room can be clogged filters from the split system. How often you need to change them is indicated in the instruction manual for the device.

How does dust affect odor formation?

Most of all, the unpleasant smell comes from the air conditioner in rooms that are dirty and dusty, with a weak ventilation system and rare wet cleaning, so the answer to the question of why this happens is quite obvious. Where there is a lot of carpeting and upholstered furniture, air circulation leaves much to be desired. And the air conditioner drives the air of the room through itself, while it does not absorb it from the street. The solution to this problem also lies on the surface - frequent wet cleaning should be carried out, and the quality of air exchange should be improved.

As a result of such dustiness, the heat exchanger of the indoor unit first of all suffers, as well as the fan turbine, since it is covered with a layer of dust. Then water covers it, thus forming a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Hence the musty smell.

It should be noted that after some time the device will emit similar odors that are present in the room, especially if there are smokers in the house. A split system will also stink of tobacco smoke. In addition, constant odors from the kitchen will also let the appliance pass and give them back to the room. True, the people living in it are unlikely to be able to notice them.

What steps can be taken to eliminate bad breath?

Attention! To clean the air conditioner, it is necessary to perform the following actions: wash off the mold fungus and other kinds of mud deposits, disinfect the parts, and dry them well.

You can do this yourself or with the help of specialists. In the case when the smell is barely perceptible, you can eliminate it without disassembling the split system. Although such measures should not be expected to have a lasting effect.

So, the first step, as mentioned above, is to wash the mold. The work is simple, so you can do it yourself, you just need to refer to the instructions and learn how to clean the filters. But if you are not completely versed in plumbing, then it is better to contact a specialist who will do everything himself according to the rules and save you from the hated smell.

After turning off the fan, dry it thoroughly. This can be done thanks to the function that delays turning it off, which is available in modern air conditioners, or you can do it yourself by turning on the "ventilation" mode for 5-10 minutes. This function allows you to dry the evaporator and eliminate various odors.

And, finally, it is necessary to carry out the disinfection of parts of the air conditioner with special means for this. As a rule, the product is sprayed near the place where the device draws air for cooling. Together with the air, the solution splashes into the drainage system and has a detrimental effect on mold and bacteria. When the stagnation of water is insignificant, the unpleasant odor is easily eliminated.

Types of filters and their coating

Now manufacturers are releasing a lot of models that reduce the appearance of pathogenic bacteria or eliminate them on their own and fight unpleasant odors. There are a number of filters that are installed in air conditioners:

1. A photocatalytic filter is installed in each appliance and is able to absorb any odors of organic origin. It does not contain sources of pollution collected from the air, but immediately eliminates them.
2. The catechin filter was developed using a special technology based on the use of tea leaves, which have disinfecting properties due to the catechin substance they contain. It is a natural antiseptic. With such a filter, a person can not be afraid for his health, because the device was tested, where it turned out that 98% of the viruses that went through it do not pose any threat to the body. The thing is that viruses are attached to a healthy cell due to their spikes, and catechin envelops them, thereby preventing them from infecting healthy cells.
3. Wasabi filter is able to destroy bacteria due to substances obtained from Japanese wasabi horseradish.
4. The plasma ionizer is made of metal plates, between which a high voltage of 2000 V passes. When bacteria enters between the plates, they are immediately destroyed, and large particles of dust become electrified and settle on the plates. This type of filter is one of the most efficient and does not require replacement, unlike the others.

It is not necessary to immediately change the filter if you feel an unpleasant smell during the operation of the air conditioner, because the reason for its occurrence may lie in a completely different place. If you yourself have not found out what causes it, then it is better to contact a specialist who will properly perform a complete disinfection and, if necessary, replace the filter.

How to clean the filters yourself?

Everyone can clean the filter, since this procedure is simple. It is enough to follow the instructions, but if this is not possible, then you should follow the following action plan:

1. The first thing to do is open the top cover of the indoor unit.
2. Take out the air filter.
3. If there is a slight accumulation of dust, remove it with a vacuum cleaner.
4. When turning dirt into a crust that does not leave, remove it under running water without unnecessary friction and the use of household chemicals.
5. Dry the filter well.
6. Switch on the air conditioner in fan mode and spray disinfectant near the air intake area.
7. Go over the blinds with a damp cloth.
8. Assemble a split system.

Important! If you do not clean the filters, then this can lead to unpleasant consequences.

The air conditioner, if the filter is dirty, will not cool the room properly, the operation of the refrigeration system will be disturbed, the drainage and filters will be contaminated with a large amount of adhering dust, which will complicate the cleaning of the device.

Important! Such an environment is very favorable for the reproduction of mold fungus and harmful microorganisms, as a result of which an unpleasant smell comes out of the air conditioner.

Therefore, you should clean the device in time so as not to endanger your health.

It should be noted that when using disposable filters against unpleasant odors and bacteria, they cannot be washed, but should be changed as they become dirty.

Cleaning the heat exchanger and outdoor unit

A vacuum cleaner is perfect for cleaning the heat exchanger of the climate device. However, if the accumulation of dust and dirt is too large, then a special steam cleaner is indispensable here. You should not carry out such manipulations on your own, since there is a risk of damaging internal parts. As a rule, the location of the heat exchanger is immediately under the cover or behind the air-cleaning filter.

As for the external block, here the situation is completely different and even more complicated. But at the same time, it only needs to be cleaned once a year, which greatly simplifies the task. If the air conditioner is not installed too high, you can clean it yourself, without the participation of specialists. To do this, you need to unscrew the protective grille of the appliance, vacuum it and the indoor unit and assemble the air conditioner.

If you are located on high floors, it is better not to do this yourself, but to call the master. Don't put yourself in danger.

In addition, qualified assistance is appropriate if the system has ceased to function normally, for example, you have detected extraneous sounds, water leakage or other disturbances.

If you clean the air conditioner in a timely manner, you can avoid a lot of trouble. And in order to save your budget, it is quite possible to do without the help of specialists, but only by adhering to the recommendations or acting strictly according to the instructions.

Preventive measures against bad breath

In order not to disturb you with an unpleasant smell during operation and after turning off the air conditioner, it is necessary to take preventive measures, which are as follows:

1. Clean the filters once every 2 weeks, and once a year, contact the service center to clean the air conditioner.
2. Clean the drainage system, which can become clogged as a result of an illiterate installation of the air conditioner, which leads to the accumulation of water on the appliance pan, where bacteria multiply well. If you find water stagnation, then find out the reasons for its occurrence. If everything is in order, but the smell continues to bother you, then try using chlorhexidine, which perfectly fights this problem, being an antiseptic drug.
3. Approximately once a month, it is necessary to spray the disinfectant into the interior of the air conditioner after removing the filters. When carrying out these manipulations, the device must be turned off. Switch on the climate control device only after 20 minutes, and preferably in the dehumidification mode.
4. Wipe the movable blades of the air conditioner with a damp cloth, preferably from microfiber, to remove all contaminants that cause an unpleasant odor. At the same time, it is important not to damage them, and to get to hard-to-reach places, you can use a long knitting needle. Dry the conditioner thoroughly after cleaning.

So that you are not disturbed by an unpleasant smell during and after the operation of the air conditioner, it is important to clean it in time, which will prevent its occurrence. By taking proper care of your air conditioner, you care not only about its condition, but also about your health.

It happens that all the benefits of using an air conditioner are nullified as soon as an unpleasant smell from the air conditioner spreads in your house or apartment. In addition, a similar problem can happen to a car owner who recently purchased an air conditioner and is now thinking about returning the device back to the store. Do not rush to panic, you can get rid of the unpleasant irritating smell of the air conditioner without much difficulty.

Even if the split system is regularly cleaned, there is a risk of stench in the room, which can even be very dangerous for the residents of the house.

What does it depend on? There are several key points that contribute to the release of unpleasant odors from the air conditioner:

Before trying to eliminate an unpleasant smell in the air conditioner, find out the cause of the problem. And only after that proceed with the repair.

Video "Cleaning and prevention of pollution"

From the video you will learn how to clean the air conditioner from unpleasant odors and dirt.

How to remove

How to get rid of the strong smell of the air conditioner? Drying is the best option. It is possible that such a function is not available if you purchased the split system a long time ago. As for modern models, they are usually equipped with this advantage. What exactly does the dehumidification function imply? This is an opportunity to leave the fan on for a while after the final shutdown of the air conditioner itself. What is remarkable about this characteristic? Its use allows you to thoroughly dry the evaporator and, accordingly, independently eliminate unpleasant odors.

If such a function is not provided in your split system, then for sure you can simply activate the "ventilation" mode. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes and the effect will be the same. Very often, the problem with the stench that the air conditioner exudes is formed due to the assumption of a number of errors during the installation of the system. Hence the stagnation of water and the aromas that irritate you. You can remove this kind of trouble only with a competent reinstallation of the drainage system.

Another effective way to eliminate unpleasant odors from the air conditioner is disinfection. To do this, you need to get professional cleaning products. There are a lot of universal preparations that allow you to clean both home and car air conditioners.

Air conditioner cleaning

How else can you eliminate the smell from the air conditioner in a house or apartment? It is necessary to get rid of the stench with complex measures. Such procedures are designed to clean the device of mold and dirt, as well as to disinfect key parts and dry them thoroughly. The difficulty lies in the fact that the split system must be disassembled for complex cleaning. And then it's up to you to decide whether to turn to professionals.

In general, all this must be done in several basic steps:

Cleaning the air conditioner at home is not difficult if you follow the key rules for disassembling the split system.

Replacement of filters and coatings

It is quite possible to remove a sharp and unpleasant odor if the filters are replaced in time. However, you need to know exactly which device is right for your specific situation.

There are several most common types of filters used in modern split systems:

Getting rid of unpleasant odors is an important step in ensuring the quality and uninterrupted operation of a cleaned split system. If the air conditioner malfunctions, the cause does not necessarily lie in a filter malfunction.

The safest thing to do is to go to a service center as soon as possible, where your device will be carefully checked and disinfected. However, in most cases, malfunctions in the functioning of any air conditioner can be fixed at home.

However, if you recently purchased a split system, but the stench has already spread throughout the apartment or private house, it is quite possible that the product was originally defective or made of low-quality plastic. In any case, it is necessary to ensure the full operation of the split system, because if fetid air currents spread in the room, you and your household will suffer first of all.

Video "How to remove"

From the video you will learn how to eliminate the smell from the air conditioner in the apartment.

An unpleasant smell from the air conditioner may appear within a month or two after installation. Very often, such a problem occurs after a long break in his work: for example, at the beginning of summer, if he did not turn on at all during the cold period. Do not rush to scold the manufacturer or the craftsmen who installed your model: such a nuisance sooner or later happens to everyone.

Causes of an unpleasant odor

First, try to determine what it smells like. An old wet rag? Sewerage? Or is the bad smell from the air conditioner not like any of the smells you know? Perhaps the source is not the air conditioner at all, but, say, an old dusty carpet that has not been washed for a long time, or a “stash” of a pet that hid a piece of meat in a secluded corner for a “rainy day”.

Are you sure it's the air conditioner? Then it's time to understand why this happened. Experts identify three reasons for the appearance of an unpleasant odor:

1. Accumulation in parts and filters of ambient aromas. The fact is that many air conditioners do not use the air from the street, but cool the one that is already in the room. As a result, odors accumulate and are released back in a concentrated form. If you have new inexpensive furniture, it may well contain a large amount of formaldehyde resins, the smell of which is far from pleasant. Also, some types of plastic and synthetics can be the culprits for the appearance of unpleasant odors.
2. Mold and bacteria. These pests appear inside not at all because of someone else's fault. It's just that the temperature of the evaporator is always lower than the ambient temperature, which is why condensation is guaranteed to appear on it. Under normal conditions, it is removed from the system through drainage tubes, but before that it has time to contact the environment, which is far from sterile. This is how bacteria and mold grow in the air conditioner. And if the device has not been turned on for a long time, then the “golden time” comes for them: it is warm and damp in the device - an ideal environment for reproduction.
3. Drainage without siphon. Sometimes moisture from the air conditioner is removed not to the street, but to the sewer. If a siphon was not used during installation, then all the "charm" of the sewers can break out, filling your apartment.

Sometimes (with a long idle time) the moisture from the siphon evaporates, and it can no longer protect the room from extraneous odors. In this case, you just need to turn on the air conditioner and give it a little time so that the new condensate has time to fill the tube.

How to deal with this problem

All methods of cleaning the air conditioner come down to one thing: wash mold and other dirt, disinfect parts and dry them thoroughly. To do this, it is advisable to disassemble it yourself or call for help from specialists. If the smell is still barely audible, you can try to eliminate it without disassembling the split system. True, such measures will give only a temporary effect.

Method number 1. Dry thoroughly

In some models, the fan does not turn off immediately: this is how the air conditioner gets rid of excess condensate on its own. If there is no such function, try to turn on the fan a few minutes before the device turns off completely. This will be an excellent prevention of mold.

Method number 2. Disinfect

There are special disinfectants for air conditioners. Usually they need to be sprayed where the device takes air for cooling. Together with the air flow, the drops of the solution penetrate into the drainage system, where they destroy the fungus and pathogenic bacteria. If the stagnation of water is small, this is enough to completely eliminate the smell from the air conditioner.

Method number 3. Disassemble and clean

Recently, we talked about how to disassemble and clean your home air conditioner yourself. If you have certain skills, you can not call the master, because in fact there is nothing complicated there. However, if you are not friends with technology at all, you will have to part with a certain amount, otherwise the smell from the air conditioner will not let you enjoy the coolness.

Video: how to disassemble and clean the air conditioner yourself

An unpleasant smell from the air conditioner usually appears some time after the installation and operation of the air conditioner. This smell is sometimes so strong that it makes it impossible to use the split system, and negates all the benefits of using the air conditioner.

Car owners also suffer from odors - the smell from the air conditioner in the car is not so rare. First, let's look at the main causes of odors.

Causes of unpleasant odors from the air conditioner.

The accumulation of fungi and bacteria in the air conditioner.

The heat exchanger (evaporator) is located in the indoor unit of the air conditioner. During operation, its temperature is significantly lower than the air temperature, respectively, condensate always forms on it - moisture that flows into the pan, and from there it is removed through the drainage tubes. Dust and microorganisms are always present in the air, which, when in contact with condensate, form a nutrient medium and, in case of stagnation, actively multiply and “smell”

Drainage without siphons

If the condensate from the air conditioner is removed into the sewer, then this must be done only with the use of siphons, otherwise all odors from the sewer system will be sucked into the room. The use of pseudosiphons in the form of a bent tube is undesirable, since in this case leakage from air conditioners is possible. By the way, if you don’t use air conditioners for a long time, for example, out of season, water dries up in the siphons and odors begin to penetrate into the room, in this case you need to wait a bit until the condensate fills the volume of the siphon - after that, the penetration of odors will stop.

Accumulation of odors from the room

As you know, the air conditioner does not take air from the street, but recirculates room air (the exception is ducted air conditioners and some models of wall-mounted ones with air inflow), that is, they simply “circle” the air in the room. Therefore, if there is a source of aromatic substances in the apartment, then the air conditioner will gradually accumulate them and will itself be the source of these odors. The main source of such odors can be new furniture - it contains a lot of formaldehyde resins, as well as synthetics, various plastics and plastics.

Ways to eliminate odors from the air conditioner

Moisture dehumidification

In many modern models of air conditioners, a delay is provided for turning off the fan after turning off the air conditioner, thereby achieving dehumidification of the evaporator and preventing the formation of odors.

If your air conditioner does not have such a function, you can dehumidify it by manually turning on the ventilation mode for a few minutes.

With improper installation, places of stagnant water are sometimes formed, where a "microswamp" is obtained with all the ensuing consequences. In this case, it is possible to eliminate the smell only by altering the drainage system or, if moisture accumulates in the indoor unit, by installing it in a horizontal position.

Disinfection, antibacterial treatment of the air conditioner.

You can carry out antibacterial treatment with the help of professional products sold in specialized stores. You can also buy products for the treatment of car air conditioners at any auto shop (in principle, an auto air conditioner in this regard is absolutely no different from a room air conditioner). It is also advised to use medical disinfectants such as Lysol.

In this case, the evaporator is processed, the agent flows from it into the tray (bath) and further into the drainage system, successively disinfecting them. But sometimes this is not enough and you have to completely disassemble the air conditioner and disinfect all internal surfaces and the fan impeller.

I want to note right away that antibacterial treatment will give a short-term effect if all condensate stagnation is not eliminated.

Antibacterial filters and coatings for air conditioners

At the moment, there are many models of air conditioners that can independently effectively deal with harmful bacteria and odors, or at least reduce the likelihood of unpleasant odors. Let's analyze the types of filters used in these air conditioners.

Photocatalytic filter

Filters of this type use the ability of titanium dioxide to decompose any organic compounds into their constituent parts - water, carbon oxides and other substances harmless to humans under the influence of ultraviolet rays. Such a filter is able to absorb any odors of organic origin. At the same time, what is important, titanium dioxide itself (titanium white) is not polluted and not consumed during the purification process - this substance is only a catalyst, that is, an accelerator of the splitting process.

Such filters are offered by many well-known manufacturers of climate technology.

Plasma ionizer

This filter is a construction of metal plates, between which a voltage of several thousand volts is applied. When they enter between these plates, various fungi, viruses and bacteria are neutralized, and larger dust particles are electrified and stick to the plates. This type of filter system is much more efficient than standard filtration systems, and periodic replacement of filters in this system is not required.

Catechin is a powerful natural disinfectant found in tea leaves and other healing plants. Panasonic has patented a catechin-coated electrostatic filter. The mechanism of action of catechin is simple - viruses need to attach to a healthy cell, for this they use special spikes, and catechin envelops the viruses, preventing them from attaching. The effectiveness of this filter has been confirmed experimentally, after passing through it, 98% of viruses no longer pose a danger.

Wasabi filter

This filter uses the ability to destroy bacteria with substances derived from Japanese wasabi horseradish. Air conditioners with such filters are produced by the Japanese corporation General-Fujitsu.

Service specialists of the Masterholoda company use professional means for disinfection of air conditioners.

Antibacterial treatment of the air conditioner.