Musty Smell After Turning On Your Commercial AC? What You Should Know
With spring and summer rapidly approaching, it's getting to be time for your air conditioning system to do its job again. If you have turned your air conditioner on for the season and noticed a musty odor filling your building, that smell could be coming from the air conditioning system. Here are some of the things that could lead to musty smells in your air conditioning and what you should do about them.
Air Filtration Issues
Your commercial air conditioning system relies on a set of air filters to ensure that there are no contaminants entering the air conditioner. Since air contaminants can settle on the coils and lead to freezing, these filters are important.
However, the air filters can become clogged with debris over time. They must be cleaned or replaced periodically to prevent this because it can inhibit air flow. It can also lead to mold growth on the filter, which can cause a musty odor in your air conditioner.
Especially in a commercial building, there's always dirt, lint, fuzz, and other particles that can get drawn into the air return, so high-quality filters made to withstand the demand are well worth the investment. Your commercial HVAC technician can help you find the ones best suited for your situation.
Air Duct Humidity
Especially if your business is in a high-humidity area, you may have problems with humidity accumulation within the air ducts. This typically happens if your air ducts are not sealed or insulated properly. When moisture is left to settle in the ducts, it leads to mildew and mold development in the ducts. As the air passes through your air ducts, it carries those mold spores and the musty odor throughout your building. You'll need to have the air ducts cleaned and then seal and insulate them to eliminate this problem and prevent it from returning.
Insufficient Drainage
Air conditioners draw moisture from the warm air in an effort to cool it. That moisture drains from the system through a condensate drain line. If your building's air conditioning unit isn't draining properly, it can cause that moisture to accumulate and lead to mold growth.
This often happens if the condensation line is clogged or otherwise blocked. You'll need to address the source of the drainage issue, then clean out the drainage trays and eliminate the existing mold to get rid of the problem.
Your commercial HVAC technician can help you to address any odors coming from your unit, including mold and musty smells filling your building. For more information, contact a local HVAC company like Day's Appliance Repair Heating & Air Conditioning Co.