Why does the air con in my car smell musty?
“The air conditioning system not only cools, it dehumidifies the air. What causes the odour is bacteria and mould growing in the evaporator core, due to excess humidity and moisture. The more humidity, the worse it is,” says Fred Rose of Anglo Canadian Automotive Supply in Vancouver. Rose has been servicing air conditioning systems since 1978.
Particles pulled in with the outside air (bacteria, spores and dirt) typically drain from the vehicle along with condensation formed when the air conditioning is in use. When excess moisture is present, these particles instead settle in the warm, moist evaporator and case. It’s dark, and ripe for the growth of bacteria and mould.
To eliminate the smell, you have to get rid of the bacteria. But how?