Timeline for Why is there a musty smell from my HVAC system even after coil cleaning?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
13 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 21, 2023 at 2:22 | history | edited | brhans | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
added 15 characters in body
|
| May 25, 2023 at 16:20 | comment | added | marbletravis | @slattery, nope I wasn't able to get rid of it. My wife can't smell it for some reason, and I have just learned to live with it for now. I have tried so many different things and HVAC people, etc. I figure its that way till I replace it. | |
| May 20, 2023 at 4:29 | comment | added | slattery | @marbletravis were you ever able to fix the evaporator coil smell? I'm having the same experience of cleaning the coils repeatedly, only to have the smell come back in a week or two! I even installed three UV-C lights around the coil and the smell still came back. I'm stumped! :( | |
| May 4, 2022 at 2:40 | comment | added | Ed Beal | Are you sure it’s not in the ductwork? AC’s cold air can condense moisture and that can cause the smell in the ducts I have seen this recently where a large ozone generator can sterilize them but you need to be out of the house for a few hours after running a larger one, it will also clear other smells. | |
| Aug 20, 2020 at 22:52 | comment | added | marbletravis | I have now sprayed the coils 6 times (with Nu-Calgon 416808), steamed them with a steam wand and the smell is still there. I know its coming from the coils. There is no smell pre-coils (removing the inner panel) but it smells after the coils. I am probably going to have someone come look at it again, but I don't want them to just spray another can and leave me with an $80 dollar bill. Any suggestions on what to tell them/ask them to do? | |
| Jul 23, 2020 at 1:11 | comment | added | Ed Beal | I use a pump sprayer and mist if there is not a pan underneath, with a pan I dump water to help clear all the residue. | |
| Jul 22, 2020 at 23:00 | comment | added | marbletravis | Thanks, one more questions, I do appreciate your help btw. How do you rinse without getting water down further in the furnace. Do you just pour from the top down the coils slowly so it runs along the coils to the pan? | |
| Jul 22, 2020 at 19:37 | comment | added | Ed Beal | You want it to quit foaming and a quick rinse is even better but once it is done you can go back to using it. I know one guy that puts it on with the fan running but that spatters stuff everywhere I would not recommend that. | |
| Jul 22, 2020 at 18:24 | comment | added | marbletravis | Quick follow up, after spraying is it best to leave the AC off for a while, or can I use it right after. Can instructions don't provide a clear answer. | |
| Jul 19, 2020 at 23:36 | comment | added | Ed Beal | I haven’t used that spray but it sounds similar to nu-brite the foaming action pushes the dirt out. Possibly the difference is cost a gallon of nubrite will outlast more than a dozen cans of aerosol but for a home owner that might be a lifetime supply and you don’t have to mix, if you like it I will mention it to customers that like to do some of their own cleaning in between a yearly check up. | |
| Jul 19, 2020 at 18:57 | vote | accept | marbletravis | ||
| Jul 19, 2020 at 18:56 | comment | added | marbletravis | Thanks for such a great explanation, especially why it smells at start and end! The smell is going away, I may give it another spray. The HVAC technician didn't spray much, I used almost a whole can and its almost gone now, hopefully another spraying will wipe it out.. | |
| Jul 17, 2020 at 19:33 | history | answered | Ed Beal | CC BY-SA 4.0 |