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The Cause of a Mold or Mildew Smell When Car A/C is On

You get in your car after a long day in the summer sun and turn on your A/C - the air feels cool, but you immediately notice a moldy, mildew scent coming from the air vents. You begin to notice this every day you turn on your A/C moving forward, and wonder if there might be an issue with your vehicle's air conditioning system. Is something wrong, and what does it mean?

One thing about the HVAC system is that it works with moisture and water, and it is in a dark confined place under your hood. This is definitely a condition in which certain bacteria and molds can grow and thrive, so a mold or mildew smell is definitely something to have checked out when you notice it. If you smell a mold or mildew scent when you turn on your vehicle's A/C, chances are you are smelling just that - mold or mildew. It is not uncommon for mold to grow in your vehicle's air vents. Unfortunately, this means you've been inhaling mold for a few days, but the quicker you get this taken care of, the better. 

Typically mold growth with the air conditioning system will happen on and around the evaporator core, where the water condensation typically collects. The best thing you can do once you realize you have a mold or bacteria issue is to get your vehicle into the experts here at Oswald Service as soon as you can. If you ignore the issue, you'll continue breathing in mold or bacteria and it can be detrimental to your health. Our professionals can ensure that the system is clean properly and restore your A/C system back to its best. 

In addition to a mold or mildew smell, other symptoms that can indicate a problem with your vehicle's air conditioning system include: 

  • No air blows out of vents
  • Air doesn't get cool
  • Strange noises when A/C is turned on

As soon as you notice an issue with your vehicle's air conditioning system, bring your vehicle into the experts here at Oswald Service Inc. for car ac repair in Idaho Falls and Rexburg, ID today!