Best Method to Remove Musty Smell from Car Air Conditioner

dubfonik on 20/02/2019 - 13:41

I have done some research on this and it seems that spraying Glen 20 into the inlet of the aircon (under the windshield from the outside) is the way to do this. However, I've also bought a new cabin filter for the car and have yet to put that in. Should I remove the filter entirely so that the existing one isn't "catching" the Glen 20?

this is the method I'm thinking so far:
1. take out existing cabin filter
2. turn on car AC with fan on high and turn recirculate off
3. spray into the inlet from outside
4. put in new cabin filter

Are there any issues with this method? Should I also be spraying the Glen 20 from the inside with recirculate on?

Automotive Air Conditioner

Comments

  • oscargamer on 20/02/2019 - 13:51
    -3

    search youtube

    • dubfonik on 20/02/2019 - 14:36
      +1

      I've done plenty of that. if you have read the description you'll see there's specific questions I'm asking

      • oscargamer on 20/02/2019 - 18:06
        -5

        then the answer is yes

  • Trung on 20/02/2019 - 13:58

    Had a similar problem, was thinking of doing what you listed and wondered the same thing, but after driving with all the windows down for about 20mins, the smell went away.

  • josetann on 20/02/2019 - 14:16

    Haven't used Glen 20, but I have used a pro-level ionizer before (the kind with warnings about NOT being around when it's running). Ran the ionizer for a bit, then when it was nearly done I started the car and ran the A/C. Worked a treat.

    • dubfonik on 20/02/2019 - 14:39

      I did see some of these sprays you mention, but they were $35+. Glen 20 was on special for $3.50 a can so I thought if it fails then I'll bump up the budget.

      • josetann on 20/02/2019 - 14:53

        An ionizer is an electronic device. The one I have isn't a "toy" one that's built-in on some air purifiers.

        • dubfonik on 20/02/2019 - 16:22

          ah, right, my bad. I thought it was a special cleaning spray which I saw when looking through Super Cheap Auto's website

    • LFO on 21/02/2019 - 23:10

      I have used a pro-level ionizer before

      Do you have details on where to get it from?

      I believe that IS the way professionals remove smells from smelly cars. Big bigger big ionizers for a couple of hours and then all smell is just gone. Consumed by the Ozone.

      • josetann on 22/02/2019 - 07:44

        Older model of this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00JAP7388/

        It's 110v only, so I use it with a voltage converter. Still cheaper than buying a 220v unit. Also worked wonders when we rented a house that had a persistent musty smell. Just run this once every couple weeks, no more problems (for us).

        • LFO on 22/02/2019 - 12:27

          SPOT ON!!!!
          Thank you :)

  • Bid Sniper on 20/02/2019 - 14:19

    Masking smell, its probably the cabin filter. Replace that and leave windows open on a hot day to dry it out, then run on a hot day with windows open with AC on for a bit.

    trick from my wife, leave a box of landry power under the seat, it soaks up bad smells.

    • dubfonik on 20/02/2019 - 14:38

      from what I found online there could be mould growing in or near the vents - not just the filter itself. so I thought spraying Glen 20 would kill it as it's a disinfectant spray (not just a masking spray).

      • Bid Sniper on 20/02/2019 - 14:42

        Its possible depending on the car.

      • dcep on 20/02/2019 - 16:28
        +1

        no glen20 won't kill mould

  • Presence on 20/02/2019 - 14:45

    It's $3.5. Why don't you take the risk and try it out?

    • dubfonik on 20/02/2019 - 14:47

      My main question is regarding whether I should remove the cabin filter completely before spraying it

      • josetann on 20/02/2019 - 14:53

        Wouldn't hurt for such a small period of time.

      • MITM on 20/02/2019 - 15:10

        Pretty obvious, yes, remove the filter before spraying.
        Throw the old filter away and replace with new afterwards.
        If the smell still persists you've eliminated one possible source.

        • dubfonik on 20/02/2019 - 16:27

          I watched a bunch of YouTube videos and none mentioned removing the filter - they just blasted the stuff into the vents

          • dcep on 20/02/2019 - 16:29

            @dubfonik: because they're lazy and cheapout on new filter

            • MITM on 20/02/2019 - 16:56

              @dcep: Can't help those they won't help themselves.

          • HeWhoKnows on 21/02/2019 - 21:14

            @dubfonik: Youtube videos are made bty amateurs who have no idea.
            You need to look for the "expert" instructional videos.
            Those done by merchants who sell the a/c disinfectants.
            I have posted correct procedure further down

  • Daabido on 20/02/2019 - 15:41
    +1

    I had this in my car once. I cured it by turning the air-con to full heat, full fan, recirc and drove for about twenty minutes. I obviously killed whatever it was with heat. It was fairly unpleasant driving in that heat, but it did the trick. I probably could have parked it while running and sat outside for that time.

    • dubfonik on 20/02/2019 - 16:23

      Ok I'll give this a go if the Glen 20 doesn't work. Thanks

  • [Deactivated] on 20/02/2019 - 16:24
    +1

    New car. Guaranteed* to work.

    *not an actual guarantee

    • dubfonik on 20/02/2019 - 16:25
      +2

      I just did the calculations and found that a new car is a bit out of my budget

  • yoonibear on 20/02/2019 - 16:35

    I had this issue smelt like someone had taken a dump in the air con vents or rat had crawled in there and died. Ran glen 20 through the inlet vents, air con set on recirc, full blast for a good 15 minutes. Didn't work all I got was a verbal thrashing from my wife. What fixed it was getting the cabin filter changed. Pong free now

    • Faulty on 22/02/2019 - 00:37
      +1

      Can of Glen20: $3.00
      Time to Clean: 30 minutes
      Verbal Thrashing from the Wife: Priceless

  • modgod on 20/02/2019 - 18:52
    +1

    May need to go to an aircon workshop
    Get the “Ozone deodorising/Antibacterial” a/c clean
    Along with replacing filters

  • boccos on 21/02/2019 - 08:13

    So, you have done most of the right things already. Now check if the drain is clear and dripping correctly under the car. Musty smell is caused by moisture mixed with other contaminants like dust, and remaining in the system for extended periods. So it needs to be draining properly and fully when in operation.

    • dubfonik on 21/02/2019 - 09:32

      I'll definitely take a look at this. it's a Corolla, so it shouldn't be hard to find some online guides to doing this task. cheers

  • Captain Musty on 21/02/2019 - 09:23
    +1

    I don't have any experience in removing car airconditioner smells as I always follow this:

    Just before (~2min) arriving at your destination, turn off the airconditioner (ie compressor), but leave the fan running (even increase the speed) to warm up the evaporator coil. The air blowing through the coil fins will blow away the condensed moisture leaving it dry - hence no smell.

    Hope that helps in the future.

    • dubfonik on 21/02/2019 - 09:32

      thanks - I came across tips like these when doing my research. I actually bought the car used, so whoever used it before me didn't do this obviously. however, I didn't know about this tip prior so I guess it's good I found out. this weekend I hope to rid the car of that stank

  • justaperson on 21/02/2019 - 12:17
    +1

    When you remove the cabin filter you'll most likely see a vent flap which vents to outside or can be closed off (what the recirc button controls) and around that you'll see a rubber seal. This seal is responsible for a lot of the musty smells so if you can maneuver your hand in there, clean it with a disinfectant such as pine-o-clean in addition to replacing the cabin filter.

  • backpaqer on 21/02/2019 - 13:21
    -1

    Get in car. Turn on fans to full bore in manual mode and coming through into the cabin directed at your face.

    Now turn the car off.

    Fill the vents with pleasant smelling talcum powder. Clean up any spillage and lock the car up.

    Let your friend borrow the car (don't forget to video the results!!!).

    Net result is a nice smelling car, a good 30+ minutes of belly laughs and an income stream on a viral video. Wins all round.

  • Chris Topher on 21/02/2019 - 16:59

    I have a '98 Ford EL which has air-con. I found that after driving with the air-con on is lovely but if I stopped somewhere and sat in the car with the ignition in the accessory position a mouldy smell soon comes up.

    What caused the smell was discovered by quick experimentation. Stopping the engine with the air-con still turned on and accessories on the fan continued to circulate the air. As the ducts 'dried' or warmed up the mould grows and then the smell.

    By turning the air-con off and leaving the fan running all was well, no smell.

    Back 'then' I did a lot of driving and then parking at varying locations, having to stay in the car waiting for calls on the 2 way radio fitted to the car. From that I proved to myself that it worked. When the engine was running and the air-con on there wasn't any problem.

    I also established that the popular morning Melbourne newspaper was worth the paper it was printed on, even the crosswords were crap. It was the Truth without the pictures. Long live Mr Wisdom's Wopper. :-)

  • HeWhoKnows on 21/02/2019 - 20:59
    +1

    Having worked in this industry and sold aerosols which remove car a/c odours I can say that you are ALMOST correct in your judgement OP.

    Glen 20 is fast, easy to use and effective at:

    • Killing 99.9% of germs (E. coli, Salmonella choleraesuis, Aspergillus niger Mould & Mildew (on hand surfaces only), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Athlete's foot fungus), Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes) on hard and soft surfaces.
    • Killing the source of mould allergens and controlling the growth of mould and mildew on hard surfaces.

    So it seems to be the right stuff to use.

    Firstly remove cabin filter as you suggested but ensure by doing so there is no large gap/opening left in the a/c system

    Secondly You must turn recirculate ON so that the a/c draws air from INSIDE the car and spray the Glen 20 into the air intake inside the car. The intake should be somewhere under the glove box. Not necessarily on high (maybe LOW) as you want to give the Glen 20 time to kill the bacteria in the a/c that are causing the problem.
    Thirdly Spray for about 60 secs. Should be plenty of time.
    Fourthly. Install new cabin filter (cheapest to buy on eBay)
    Repeat in a week if the problem persists.

    • dubfonik on 22/02/2019 - 08:21

      great, thanks for that reply - I will follow your steps this weekend. I'm assuming it's fine to leave my windows open while I do this so I don't kill myself with the horrible smell of Glen 20 :)?

  • Euphemistic on 22/02/2019 - 09:19

    I wouldn’t use the Glenn 20 first up, would hate to think the smell lingered after the fact.

    Wait for a hot, dry day. Paek the car in the sun. Wait for it to heat up then put your ac on max heat and run it for a while. Should dry out the air and heat up enough to kill anything.

    Then put it in cool and make sure the condensation is dripoing outside the car. My wife’s car had a faulty design such that the condensation would drip back inside the car which made the carpet wet. I didn’t realise until I pulled the mats out once and found the floor wet. Googled the problem, found it was common in that vehicle and once fixed has been good since. No more musty smell either.

    I found that I would get a musty smell out of the vents if the ac was turned off if it hadn’t been used much for a while. Use the AC more regularly and it helps keep everything dry inside.

    • HeWhoKnows on 22/02/2019 - 11:04

      I doubt it.
      Generally heat must be raised to ":boiling point" to kill germs and bacteria.
      But worth a try. It can't do any harm.

      • Euphemistic on 22/02/2019 - 11:50

        True, but t also needs moisture to survive. Flat out ac is dry heat.

  • poormansfriedchicken on 05/10/2019 - 21:52

    is there an update on whether this has worked or not?

    • dubfonik on 08/10/2019 - 11:01
      +1

      I tried it, and the smell came back (though not as bad). This may be because I didn't do it correctly or that the Glen20 isn't strong enough to work in my case. I will be trying again, or taking it to someone now that summer is on its way and I can start to smell it when using the AC

      • Euphemistic on 08/10/2019 - 11:11

        Have you kept using the AC over winter?

        • dubfonik on 08/10/2019 - 11:13

          not too often. I don't drive every day.

          I bought the used car almost a year ago, and the smell was already there, so it must have been an issue caused by the previous owner.

  • dogboy on 09/10/2019 - 09:34

    I have a similar issue but it isn't the aircon, only the non-aircon fan.

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