If the air conditioning stinks, then that’s unpleasant. In addition, it can be harmful to health. Therefore, you should fix the smelly air conditioner in the car as soon as possible.
Why does my air conditioner stink?
If the air conditioning in the car smells unpleasant after starting, then you should do something about it. Because the reason for a smelly air conditioning system is often an infestation of fungi and bacteria. Because they may have nested there. And mushrooms thrive in the plant’s humid environment. So that you can effectively eliminate the bacteria and fungi and your air conditioner no longer stinks, you should do the following:
1) Remove residual moisture from the air conditioner
In order to avoid the fungal infestation and thus the unpleasant smell, you should switch off the air conditioning shortly before the end of the journey and only let the ventilation run for a few minutes. This can be done with the “Econ” mode, for example. As a result, the residual moisture is removed from the system. If an air conditioner is already heavily infested with fungi, it is best to have it cleaned by a specialist company or have the filter replaced. Also, read how to make faded plastic in your car look new.
2) Disinfect the smelly air conditioner
If the smell is not too strong, you can disinfect your air conditioner. You can drive to an auto repair shop for this. Or buy the right disinfectant spray for your air conditioner yourself. Then you should follow the instructions strictly for effective odor elimination.
3) Warmth against smelly air conditioning
You can also try to kill the fungi and bacteria with heat. To do this, let the heating run at the highest level for some time. With a bit of luck, the odor-causing substances will die off and your air conditioner will no longer stink. Also, note tips on how to avoid smelly laundry and how to remove smells from the oven.
Tips to avoid smelly air conditioning
So that your air conditioner doesn’t stink in the first place, you should heed a few things and take care of the correct handling of your air conditioner:
- Prevent the coolant from going bad by turning on the air conditioning every now and then, even in winter.
- Switch off the air conditioning early, at least 5 minutes before the end of the journey.
- Regularly check the coolant and replace the cabin filter.
- Use air conditioning only when needed.
