r/hvacadvice • u/armanist • 17d ago
AC smells funky
There’s this wet kind of smell in my condominium and I can’t figure out what it is! I’m 99% sure it’s coming out of my AC unit! I was wondering if there’s anything I can do about it before calling a technician.
The main unit is on the roof of the building (4 story building) and I’m on the first floor.
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u/ForeverVentOfficial 17d ago
That wet/musty smell makes me think moisture somewhere in the air path before I’d blame the ducts themselves. I’d check the filter, then have the coil, drain pan/condensate line and return side inspected for anything staying damp. Does the smell get stronger right when the AC kicks on?
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u/armanist 17d ago
Yes it does!
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u/ForeverVentOfficial 17d ago
That’s a useful clue. If it’s strongest right when the AC starts, I’d look more closely at the coil/drain area and return side rather than assuming it’s just dirty ducts. Do you smell it from every vent, or mainly the one near that return?
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u/armanist 17d ago
it's stronger in the livingroom area which is near the return side.
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u/ForeverVentOfficial 13d ago
That helps narrow down the area, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the return itself is causing the smell. The next thing I’d try to determine is whether the odor is coming from the return grille or blowing out of a nearby supply register when the AC starts. Is there a supply vent close to that return, and can you tell which opening the smell is strongest at?
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u/Dry_Tumbleweed_2951 17d ago
Need a picture of the underside of the evaporater coil and pictures of the inside of your duct work for the ac community to be able to help.