What can I do about mildew smell in vents?

I

imported_kgb

New member
When the A/C is on for the first few minutes on my girl friends car it stinks of mildew. I thought there was a product I could use to get rid of this but not sure. What do you all do?
 
I know 1z, among several others, makes a product like that, in a can with a flexible thick tube. The 1z site ought to show it but I have no idea if it's in the US :nixweiss



I'd take a look over at TOL or autoint.com for other professional solutions.
 
The first thing to do is look for the cause. You might want to check for TSBs related to a blockage in the air conditioning condensation runoff tube. I know older Jeep Grand Cherokees had just such a problem. If the water is accumulating somewhere, there could be mold or mildew that is causing a smell to come through the vents.



Once you address the core problem, you should be able to eliminate the odor by simply getting some Lysol through the system. To do it properly, find the entrance grate, where air is drawn in from outside. This is often located under the hood, by the wiper cowl, but may be plumbed in some other way. Turn your HVAC system to the "fresh air" or "outside air" position and turn the fan on high. Then spray the Lysol in spurts into the entry point. That should draw it through the system and help with your problem.



Good luck.



--Jim
 
Something else to think about is always running the air on the fresh air re-circulate mode. That allows the outside air to constantly be cooled and re-circulated thru the vehicle. When the setting is on MAX, in most vehicles, you are only circulating the air within. It's a good idea to only use the MAX setting when it's extremely hot.
 
Yep, Klima-Clean works well, I just used an application this weekend (about half a can).



I also turn off the AC but leave the fan running for the last minute or two of my drive to help dry the condensor and surrounding area. That's made a huge difference.
 
I've also heard to turn the AC off a couple minutes before you reach your destination to help get rid of some of the condensation. I've been doing this on days I use my AC turn it off 2-3 miles or so before I get home no smell ever yet.
 
Yes,it's fantastic stuff.It works,the long supplied hose allows you to distribute the product to exactly the source of the odour and it smells terrific.You'll find yourself doing all your cars on a regular basis!
 
Also try changing the cabin air filter. Also, find a mobile interior guy/gal, and have them run an ozone machine in it for about a hour. Like mentioned before, find the source, eliminate it, and go from there. ALOT of chrysler products have what I call the "dodge smell". Jeeps and Dodge trucks especially.
 
Been on holidays and was just catching up on what's been going on at autopia and saw the post about the "smell". Bought a new car last fall and this was my first summer driving it (and for a change we had a real hot summer here in BC). Anyway, after talking to a lot of industry specialist (who either didn't know much or tried to sell me a bill of goods), found the following article (see link). The "sprays" tend to be a very short term solutions. I used one referred to in the article (follow the link). I really found cutting the a/c about a mile or two before arriving at my destination worked to completely eliminate the smell as this allows the evaporater time to dry. Of course, that doesn't help if you mostly drive short distances. Anyway, I'm going to have my a/c treated before next summer and will post the results. I think my problem arose because I only drive 7km to work so I run the a/c, build up water in the evaporator which is a breading ground for bacteria, mildew, fungi, etc and never give the evaporator achance to dry it out.



http://autorepair.about.com/cs/heatingac/a/aa071601a.htm



Of course, you still have to check the filters as suggested by others.



Hope the info helps.



Karen
 
I hear alot of people hear talking about temporary solutions for the mold and mildew problems that sometimes exist in the a/c or heating.

Lysol smells great for a short time. Alot of the aftermarket quick shots that go in only temporarly relieve the odor.

First you need to identify why you have mold or mildew in the first place. For example somebody mentioned that you might have a clogged drain tube or some other mechanical defect that dosent allow the system to drain properly resulting in mildew or mold.

Or perhaps the a/c and heating system are fine, however your carpet has mold or mildew or mold and mildew spores. When you run your a/c or heat or vent on recirulate it sucks the air in from near the carpeting resulting in a reseeding of the ventilation system and more mold and mildew.

What you need to do in order to elimanate the problem is to repair any mechanical defects if they exist and than to shampoo your carpest and upholstrey to remove any mold/mildew spores to prevent reseeding.

You cant use regular carpet shampoos or the like. They only make the problem worse by wetting the spores.

You need to add a anti-microbial product like "Microban Disinfectant Spray Plus" This stuff is unbelievable. Its used in hospital operating rooms, morques, water remediation, etc.

It will completly and permantly kill mold/mildew and the spores that make them regrow. Plus it has a residual effect that will stop mold/mildew regrowth for 6 months.

Its a great product. You can add it to your shampoo and than use regulary or use it full strength. Also its used to clean HVAC systems of mold and mildew. A better product for elimanating mold/mildew odors from cars has not been made.

No I dont work for them, the product has solved alot of problems for me. Try it you will never go back.

Website about the product..........http://www.unsmoke.com/odor-mircobanplus-unscented.htm

Its not just for HVAC, use for carpeting , upholstry, just about any surface, This will solve those mold/mildew problems. Its never failed me yet!!!!!

All you detailers give it a try, I will be known as a God for letting my secret out. You will all bow before me and thank me. I will be on a pedastal. LOL
 
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