Car air conditioner has a musty smell: Causes and solutions
After a period of disuse, when starting a car again, there is often a musty smell coming from the car's air conditioning system, making many car owners confused because they do not know the cause and how to fix it.
A musty smell coming from the car's air conditioning system is a common phenomenon that many car users experience when starting the car after a few days, or even just after a night of not using the car. This makes many car users feel uncomfortable.
A musty smell coming from the car's air conditioning system is a common phenomenon that many car users experience when starting their car. Photo: Ba Hung
Having used the 2023 Honda City for about 6 months, Mr. Le Quyet Tien, residing in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, said that the car has run more than 10,000 km, and recently when starting the engine every morning, he often smells a musty smell coming from the air-conditioning vents. Not only Mr. Tien, the Hyundai Stargazer of Mr. Duc Chinh in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, which he bought for service, also has the same problem despite regularly cleaning the interior.
In fact, this phenomenon comes from the humidity accumulated in the car's air conditioning system. Just understand the cause and pocket some small tips will help you overcome this situation:
Causes of musty smell in air conditioner
The car's air conditioning system smells musty due to many reasons such as the air filter being dirty for a long time without being cleaned or replaced or the car not being cleaned for a long time. However, the main cause comes from the sudden change in temperature. Specifically, after turning off the engine, the cold air is still in the air conditioning system, combined with the car doors being closed, causing the air conditioner to accumulate steam, condense moisture... over time, causing mold. When the user restarts the car, the musty smell flies out through the air vents, causing discomfort to the car user.
When the user restarts the car, the musty smell comes out through the air vents, making the people sitting in the car uncomfortable. Photo: Ba Hung
