Mildew smell from the Aircon

[nakajima]

Why stinky = cooling coil conking off?

 

 

Refrigerant got no smell one.

 

Cooling coil is a closed system. It is physically hidden.

 

The cooling coil condense water when the engine is off cos its cold. The water causes mould and mildrew to grow.

[Mustank]

In every cooling system (refrigeration units or aircon), there is a expansion or cooling coil.

This is where the gas is allowed to expand and absorb heat.

 

When a fan blows ambient air over it, the air is cooled and you get "aircon"

 

The problem is when the aircon is switched off, after you parked your car, the cooling coil is still cold for the next 20mins or so.

Bcuz of our humid weather, water condensed on the coil.

 

Most of the water will drained off through the discharge hose, but some hang around.

 

Bacteria, algae, mold start to grow around these areas.

 

The next time, you start your engine and blower, the stinking smell is the first thing you get.

 

So when you get rid of the water, you get rid of the bacteria/algae, you get rid of the smell.

 

If your aircon is not cold, it's another matter. The cooling coil could have corroded due to all those water and leak gas.

In that case, it has to be replaced.

 

that's why my home aircon

5 mins before I turn off, I will put the highest temp and the highest fan

[Adrianli]

The cooling coil condense water when the engine is off cos its cold. The water causes mould and mildrew to grow.

 

How does that make the cooling coil conking off?

[Kb27]

that's why my home aircon

5 mins before I turn off, I will put the highest temp and the highest fan

 

For home aircon, I'll just switch to fan mode, before shutting down.

But for inverter, I think there's a heating or "coil dry" mode when you can use also.

At least, my Fujitsu has that. They know the problem with a "wet" coil.

 

[Mustank]

For home aircon, I'll just switch to fan mode, before shutting down.

But for inverter, I think there's a heating or "coil dry" mode when you can use also.

At least, my Fujitsu has that. They know the problem with a "wet" coil.

 

 

idea man! I never think of that trick

maybe I go home try

do you know which way is the fastest to un-wet the coil?

[Adrianli]

From my engineering knowledge, a heat exchanger conking off is when it is mechanically damaged. Either a hole in the pipes or the o-ring connected to the heat exchanger damaged thus leaking refrigerant.

 

Never learned before smelly = cooling coil conking off. This is new to me.

[Kb27]

idea man! I never think of that trick

maybe I go home try

do you know which way is the fastest to un-wet the coil?

 

Faster way is the heater or coil-dry mode.

My fijitsu will do 20 mins before auto-shutdown on coil-dry mode.

 

But fan mode, can just leave to run longer, since it's just like operating fan, doesn't use much electricity.

[Suhaimiebrahim]

I will ask myself if this workshop is trustworthy.

 

From mildew smell suddenly say leak here/there, then add on compressor weak....

 

Give you an analogy:

You walk into a mobile phone shop asking to fix a screen occasional flicker issue, the young shopkeeper gave it a quick look say need to change the LCD screen and will cost you $X, you agreed, boss looked on from corner, saw you did not flinch at $X quote, walk over, pick up your phone, fiddle abit more, tell you actually you also need to change your circuit board for additional $Y...he observe your reaction, when you said to go ahead with the repair for $X+Y,  during the repair, he tells you that you need to change another faulty component as it is only discovered during repair process. It will cost your $Z. But he say since you are a good customer, he will give you 10% discount for $X+Y+Z. 

 

go to another reputable aircon specialist shop for a 2nd opinion. Do not tell them what you were told by the first workshop. Let them assess the problem independently. 

 

Agree with your anology and thinking if these guys try to con me with the repair at that point.

 

They did not charge me for the short diagnosis.....maybe it's a trap to convince to come again.....

 

Will get second opinion on this matter...

[Mustank]

Faster way is the heater or coil-dry mode.

My fijitsu will do 20 mins before auto-shutdown on coil-dry mode.

 

But fan mode, can just leave to run longer, since it's just like operating fan, doesn't use much electricity.

Many thanks!

[Othello]

my method, get a piece of charcoal put in a sock (so will not dirty). leave in glove box for a month, then change. Old charcoal can use to cook soup 

 

quite effective, really !! 

[Thaiyotakamli]

I will ask myself if this workshop is trustworthy.

 

From mildew smell suddenly say leak here/there, then add on compressor weak....

 

Give you an analogy:

You walk into a mobile phone shop asking to fix a screen occasional flicker issue, the young shopkeeper gave it a quick look say need to change the LCD screen and will cost you $X, you agreed, boss looked on from corner, saw you did not flinch at $X quote, walk over, pick up your phone, fiddle abit more, tell you actually you also need to change your circuit board for additional $Y...he observe your reaction, when you said to go ahead with the repair for $X+Y, during the repair, he tells you that you need to change another faulty component as it is only discovered during repair process. It will cost your $Z. But he say since you are a good customer, he will give you 10% discount for $X+Y+Z.

 

go to another reputable aircon specialist shop for a 2nd opinion. Do not tell them what you were told by the first workshop. Let them assess the problem independently.

But when different workshops give different solution, which would u trust?

[Vratenza]

But when different workshops give different solution, which would u trust?

The solution by more reputable, more cost effective and makes some logical sense prevails. This applies to many problems in life.

 

Worse comes to worse, just flip a coin. Sometimes in life you need to pay for your lessons.

 

Solutions from the forum also takes some mental processing before the decision to try out.

[Ake109]

Hi all bros,

 

Recently when switching on the aircond, there is stale like mildew smell coming from the vent. This will be over after about 5 mins.

 

Sent the car to a workshop and the technician mention that the cooling coil might be leaking and proceed to check the pressure by using some kind of pressure gauge.

 

While doing that another older guy take a look and mention that the compressor is weak.

 

At this point I'm a little confuse to which is the real problem.

 

It was mention that replacement cost about $600+ to rectify the problem.

 

Any bros here encounter such problem and who should I listen too?

 

Car is 2006 Camry.Cheers.

 

Like what many previous posters said, you should try the max heater option first. The heat is from your engine/coolant system, so don't do this when just start car. Must drive it around for at least 10 mins (best in traffic in daytime) before trying this.

 

One question, is your aircon still cold? If it is still cold, unlikely your cooling coil or condenser or compressor or what not is spoilt. The smell is just mold which you can kill by whacking with hot dry air. If you air con still tok kong can blow super cold air, the mech who told you compressor is weak probably telling lies.

 

If your a/c is not cold or not cold enough, then it is separate problem.

Edited February 23, 2016 by Ake109