It’s possible that you have a clogged condensate drain line and the condensate is pooling in the pan under your condenser and growing mildew / mold that then gets sucked into the air ducts.

How do I get the musty smell out of my HVAC?

How to Get Rid of a Musty or Moldy Odor

  1. Check for Mold. Take a look at your condenser coils, as well as the drip pan. …
  2. Clean your Evaporator Coils. You can clean your evaporator coils to remove excess dust. …
  3. Use Soap or Detergent. If you find mold in your ductwork, use soap or a detergent solution to clean your ducts.




Why does my HVAC smell musty?

Air Conditioner Smells Musty
Also known as dirty sock syndrome, this smell is often caused by a filthy evaporator coil that has mold, mildew and bacteria buildup. Excess water can also make your home air conditioner smell bad.

Why does my AC smell musky?

If your AC smells musty, the general cause is the accumulation of water in the drain pan or drip lines (or ducts in case of ducted systems), which can cause fungus or mildew to grow. In case of a leakage, you might even get visible signs in your indoor ductless unit, such as water dripping down your wall.

Why does my AC smell after cleaning?

These droplets of water should drain out via the AC duct, but at times the moisture and leftover water causes fungus and bacteria to grow inside the AC ducts. This causes a foul mouldy stink in your AC which is similar to the smell of dirty, old socks.

Will cleaning air ducts remove musty smell?





These smells may cause headaches or aggravate health issues such as asthma or allergies. Of course, cleaning the ducts will eliminate the smell, but it is still essential to permanently remove the odor by finding the mold or mildew source.