We all know the familiar smell of worn socks and sweaty feet. The potency is one of a kind! When your air conditioner emits the same smell, it’s only fair to assume that there must be something wrong.
How it Happens
Dirty Sock Syndrome happens when the coils of heat pumps and air conditioners start to grow and collect bacteria. This usually occurs when the systems heat runs briefly before it is switched back to the cool setting. This change in temperature creates the perfect climate for cultivating bacteria which is what emits the familiar odor of dirty socks!
How you Can Prevent It
The first step to preventing your home from smelling like dirty socks is getting all existing mildew, fungus and bacteria cleaned out. This includes eliminating any environment that cultivates their growth like dirty drain pans that have sitting water in them or inadequate dry traps. Frequently checking the AC coil for any dampness will also help to prevent unwanted bacteria growth.
How to Fix It
Fixing Dirty Sock Syndrome can be done with a thorough coil cleaning which should be done by a professional like one of our many qualified technicians here at Local AC. If further actions need to be taken after a coil cleaning to rid the bacteria then our technicians can pull the coils and put them in a vat to kill growth as well as apply a preventative coating that will keep bacteria from growing on the coils again.
Call Local AC to Rid Your AC of it’s Dirty Sock Smell
Call to schedule an appointment with us today if you need your HVAC system checked!
