Have you recently noticed an unpleasant smell coming from your air conditioner? It may remind you of a sour smell, vinegar-like. Well, we’re here to tell you that it’s actually a very common thing, so worry not, your AC is not yet a lost cause. Air conditioners can actually produce a lot of different unpleasant odors—including, but not limited to, vinegar, rotten eggs, mildew, or dirty socks. So keep on reading to find out why your AC might smell like vinegar, and what you can do to fix it or prevent it from happening again.
Main Reasons Your AC Produces a Vinegar Smell
Unbeknownst to many, the vinegar smell coming from an air conditioner can be happening for many different reasons. The unpleasant smell is not necessarily a cause of concern; however, on many occasions, what is causing the bad smell can actually affect your health. For that reason, we provide you with the information and tricks you need to find the weak spot and solve the problem as soon as possible.
Mold and bacteria
Mold spores and bacteria can be found everywhere, including your precious air conditioner. In order for mold to grow and spread, it needs two things: an organic food source and moisture. The former can be provided by the dust that collects in your air conditioner, where mold thrives. So if you’re wondering whether mold can smell like vinegar, the answer is yes. The latter happens either from a spill or leak that is not cleaned up properly or from high humidity.
Malfunctioning filter
Not replacing your AC filter regularly can cause more than a vinegar smell, it can disrupt the heating/cooling process of your home. Even though the AC filter isn’t a complex part of your air conditioner, not taking care of it will affect the air quality. If the back of the air conditioner unit is running hot or if the air isn’t cold enough, chances are the filters are clogged up and they’re malfunctioning. If not taken care of immediately, it can cost you a lot of money to repair and will eventually shorten the lifespan of the AC unit.
Excess condensation on the coils
The condensate drain pan is an important part of your AC. The water produced by condensation is collected in the AC drain pan. For the AC to run smoothly, it is important to maintain it clean. Excess condensation on the coils may occur due to cracking of the unit. So when you notice the pooling of water in the interior of the unit or leaking on the floor, it’s likely that the condensation pan is leaking, which can cause the vinegar smell.
Clogged condensate pan
Along with the excess condensation, another problem with pooling water in your air conditioner is the clogging of the condensate pan. When condensation happens, dirt and debris along with water can collect on the evaporator coils. The dirt and debris can accumulate if it starts to drip into the drain pan, which then clogs the drain pipe. So if your AC smells like vinegar, it might also be from a clogged condensate pan.
How to Fix Vinegar Smell from AC
Getting rid of the vinegar smell from your AC might seem intimidating, but there are actually three easy steps that won’t cost you money, or at least not a lot of it. Once you have identified the reason why your AC produces the vinegar smell, you will be able to target it by following one or more of the tips below.
Clean or change the air filter
As mentioned before, dust and debris can and will gather in your AC air filter, so cleaning or changing it is not an option, it must happen regularly. Not only will it remove the vinegar smell, but it will also improve the AC unit’s function because it won’t have to work twice as hard to cool the area.
Remove the moisture
Removing the moisture from the air conditioning is crucial for the unit to function properly, and it is also possible in many ways. One of the most effective ways to remove the moisture is to open up your AC unit and dry out the moisture using paper towels or cloths. This will soak up as much moisture as possible and will remove the dampness, which is often the main cause of bad smells coming from AC units.
Clean the vents
As you may have gathered by now, your AC unit is a real magnet for things like dust, debris, or other particles in the air. Fortunately, you can easily clean your AC vents using a vacuum cleaner, cleaning them with soap and water, and finally drying them with a towel before putting them back on. This will keep your unit working properly and will remove the vinegar smell.
Prevention
If you’re looking to prevent the problem and not give it a chance to occur, this part is for you. If you follow the next three steps, you will hopefully never have to experience an unpleasant odor coming from your AC again.
Avoid condensation
We’ve mentioned that condensation is a key part of your AC unit, but not taking care of it will cause you many problems. In order to avoid the vinegar smell or any condensation-related issues, use your AC often and let the unit dry naturally. Remember not to set the temperature too high, this would have the contrary effect.
Dehumidify
Dehumidifying your house helps keeping your AC unit healthy. An easy way of doing that is purchasing a good dehumidifier for your home. This will make it difficult for bacteria to settle in the AC and produce the vinegar odor.
Clean
Last but not least, a simple yet most effective tip is to keep your AC clean. Remember to regularly remove the dust, either with a vacuum cleaner or with wet towels. Make it a part of your cleaning routine. If you keep your AC unit and everything around it clean, you will most definitely prevent odors or even more serious problems with your AC.
Conclusion
Providing maintenance and care for your air conditioning system is not a matter of preference. A vinegar smell from your AC can be dangerous, particularly for your health, and for your pocket as well! If after reading this article you are still unsure about how to address your AC’s problem, then do not hesitate consulting with a professional; better to be safe than sorry!
