What to do when you have mould in your air conditioning

How to get rid of a musty smell in your car’s air conditioner

In the hot Australian climate, there’s only one thing worse than not having a car air conditioner – and that’s having an unpleasant musty smell coming from your air vents.

Unpleasant odour can affect comfort every time you turn the air conditioner on and can also pose a health concern. Odours in a car’s air con system can come from a few different sources. For example, the air filter could be dirty, or there could be a refrigerant leak. However, the most likely cause of bad odour from your air conditioning system is mould.

What are the issues with mould in car air conditioning?

Odour

The obvious problem presented is the musty smell of mould, causing discomfort for passengers and robbing them of fresh air. The more the mould is allowed to spread, the worse the problem becomes.

Spreads quickly

As a fungus, mould can spread rapidly and become embedded in floor carpets and even into the upholstery. In the long term, that can mean that even if the root cause is solved, another mould issue can branch out from any trace missed or left behind. It leaves a musty smell and  can lead to visible mould growth around car windows, meaning you’ll need high-quality cleaning services to eliminate the mould infestation.

Impact on health

Mould spores can be circulated throughout the vehicle’s interior when the AC is in operation, leading to respiratory issues, allergies, and other health problems. These include:

• Nasal congestion
• Throat irritation
• Wheezing
• Irritation to the eyes
• In extreme cases, it can reduce lung function and cause long-term health problems such as asthma

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights severe reactions people with mould allergies can experience.

For both comfort and health, it’s important to deal with mould in your car’s air conditioner and to check your auto air conditioning parts for signs of damage.

What causes mould to grow in the air conditioning system?

Mould is a fungus that thrives in moist places. Wherever there is a presence of moisture and organic nutrients, there is a high possibility for mould to grow.

One of the things a car air conditioning system does is remove moisture from the air. Here’s how:

• While your car’s interior is being cooled by the evaporator, moisture condenses out of the air.
• By design, this moisture is collected and drained out of the vehicle. It’s the reason why you often find a wet patch under the car after driving with the air conditioner running.
• Of course, when something goes wrong with the water drainage system, it can overflow into the car, leading to damp conditions – the ideal environment for mould to grow.

Unfortunately, because the evaporator is out of sight, a problem with water drainage may not be immediately obvious. You may only become aware of the problem after the mould has already grown from the moisture build-up in carpets or behind the dash panel.

Can you still use a car AC with mould?

Using a car AC system that contains mould is not recommended due to a number of factors. While health hazards and odour should be reason enough to address mould growth in your air conditioning unit, it’s important to note that ignoring this issue can cause further damage to the vehicle itself. 

Mould can accumulate within the AC components, such as the evaporator core and vents, leading to clogs and blockages. This can impede the airflow and efficiency of the AC system, resulting in decreased cooling performance. Furthermore, mould growth can degrade certain parts of the AC system over time, potentially leading to costly repairs or replacements. Therefore, avoiding the use of your car’s AC with mould is essential for maintaining the functionality and longevity of the vehicle’s cooling system.

How to get rid of mould in car air conditioning

Once you have identified mould as the source of your musty smell, there are some practical steps you can take to remove it. Use the following mould removal tips:

1. Dry out your car

Because mould thrives on moisture, the number one thing you can do is remove moisture from the car. On a clear sunny day, park your car in direct sunlight and leave the doors and windows open. This will provide the heat and air-flow necessary to evaporate moisture from the vehicle and get rid of any damp smell.

2. Use an anti-bacterial treatment

Antibacterial products kill car mould. If you treat all the areas where mould could grow, especially around the evaporator, this will greatly assist in eliminating the smell from the car’s interior and get rid of any remaining mould spores.

3. Check your air filters

It is possible for mould to grow inside the air filter itself if the conditions are right. Cleaning or replacing air filters on a regular basis is a good idea for health and odour reasons.While these steps can help to remove mould from your vehicle, they may not solve the root cause of the problem. Unless you deal with the build-up of moisture in the car’s interior and air conditioning system, this problem will reoccur.

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Remove car AC mould for good with specialised assistance

It is a good idea to have your air conditioner serviced if you are experiencing mould problems. This will deal with the source of moisture and will help prevent the growth of mould in the first place.

Service technicians will check and clear the water drainage system around the evaporator, ensuring water and any moisture problems are removed from the vehicle. This will also prevent mould from growing in the future. 

Ask Natrad for air conditioner diagnosis and repair. We can service and repair your car air conditioner, so get in touch before mould becomes a serious problem.