Aircon smell

bub · 08-05-2007, 14:27

I used to have my aircon on all the time but I tried running my 95 mile round trip with it off for 1 week to see if it reduced fuel. it does reduce the amount of fuel used but now I get a smell from the air con "now and again" when I change from say 21 to 18 degrees.
Anyone had this happen and more importantly what is it.!!!

anonymouse · 08-05-2007, 14:54

Fungal growth - there are products / sprays available

You'll have to do a search - Google etc until someone comes along to help

octaviarsman · 08-05-2007, 15:28

Yeah you buy the spray - stick your aircon in re-circulate mode and spray in the car.

Or you could stop being tight and use your air-con!

ap0gee · 08-05-2007, 15:57

Special Fungal Spray, my ****! Just turn your ventilation fan onto full (on the 'fresh air' setting

), go round to the outside of the car, and put about 20-30 squirts of Dettox or similar into the air inlet, which is at the bottom of the windscreen (follow the noise!) Once the cramp in your spraying hand subsides, you'll be able to enjoy your non-smelly aircon!

HTH

dstev2000 · 08-05-2007, 18:55

It's not fungus, it's just some nasty little germs breeding in your evaporator.

Any anti bacterial spray will kill them off but I would recommend the comma branded spray can you can get in Halfords. Shut all windows, air con on full recirc full fan, light the blue touch paper and go have a cup of tea while it works it's magic.

I've used them a few times and they are pretty good, use one every 3-6 months depending on how you use the air con and the smells will stay away.

mluton · 08-05-2007, 19:49

You prompted me to do mine, I've just bought one of these, item 3:
Speeding.co.uk Car Accessories Air Con Service Products

dstev2000 · 08-05-2007, 20:05

I'd love to know what item 2 has in it that boosts cooling by 10 degrees.

I wonder if I can put it in all of the undersized air conditioners I've come across over the years

IMHO the comma spray is the best of the bunch as it gets EVERYWHERE! some may think that's a bad thing as everywhere includes the windscreen, dash and seats.

The advantage is the biocide gets in all the nooks and crannies of the ventilation system and does it's job.

mluton · 08-05-2007, 20:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by dstev2000

I'd love to know what item 2 has in it that boosts cooling by 10 degrees.

I wonder if I can put it in all of the undersized air conditioners I've come across over the years

IMHO the comma spray is the best of the bunch as it gets EVERYWHERE! some may think that's a bad thing as everywhere includes the windscreen, dash and seats.

The advantage is the biocide gets in all the nooks and crannies of the ventilation system and does it's job.

I used the comma spray before and it did help for about 2 weeks, but now the smell is there again. I only get a burst of sweaty feet on starting up, not whilst its running, so not a problem unless i leave the flaps directed at my face on starting up.

dstev2000 · 08-05-2007, 20:18

Oh dear, not much success then. For some reason I have always had better luck with mine, maybe it's to do with drying the evaporator off when I have finished with the air con

Being a non smoker helps loads as well. Nicotene is not good for evaporators or lungs for that matter.

smstext · 08-05-2007, 21:09

i had this problem with my vauxhall, basically i was told its like a fridge, if you turn off the fridge and keep it shut it eventually starts to smell, same with your air con. Apart from keeping on the air con when you drive I was told to drive it for about 30 minutes once a week with air con on full whack and then drive it for another 30 minutes with air con off but on full heat to dry out the system and that should do the trick. The sprays imho work for a week or two but then youre back to square one.

JPF · 09-05-2007, 01:49

It´s true that air-conditioner filters are great habitats for fungus and bacterias. But that leads to some false concepts: You cannot detect it with the smell, but more important, you cannot kill them with that “easy money making” products.

Let me explain: Fungus live in dark places with humidity, and are easy to kill – simply expose them to sunlight for a couple of hours. Bacterias need more aggressive approaches, high temperatures for at least half an hour, or chemicals for a long period of time. As you can see, a spray can never do this.
If it’s true that the sprays can kill some, they will kill the weaker (less dangerous) and clean the way for the bad ones to grow without neighbors (natural selection).

If you really want to maintain the filter clean, remove it, wash it, leave it for a night in water with Bleach (if the fabricant permit) and then dry it with the sunlight – simple, cheap and effective.

About the smell, I think is nothing more than some humidity. As I live in Portugal, in this time of year, I face a temperature of 24ºC during the day and 12ºC at night. So I use the air-con during the day, turn-off at night. In the first minutes I feel that smell, but all I have to do is keep the windows open for a wile.
The air-conditioner dries the air, and that is the reason for that smell when you don´t use it for a period of time.

So should you keep it always on?
Wrong! Not only consumes more, as it tends to over dry the air what isn’t such a good thing for your respiratory system.

The procedure smstext described, an open window when you start air-con, and the services are totally effective. For the record I have a son with two years, and since his birth he pass a lot of time with me in the car, so I tend to be over cautious. I’ve done some research on this topic and many informations are a way to sell you products that you don´t need. Don´t need to worry.

Quite long reply, and sorry for my english

ap0gee · 09-05-2007, 08:45

^ Can't argue with any of that, apart from the bit about washing the pollen filter - they're made of paper, so I wouldn't recommend it!

bub · 10-05-2007, 13:14

Where are the air con filters located within the engine bay. this will be handy to know when the time comes to buy new ones.
Oh, and thanks again for the info. great stuff....

mluton · 10-05-2007, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by bub

Where are the air con filters located within the engine bay. this will be handy to know when the time comes to buy new ones.
Oh, and thanks again for the info. great stuff....

the pollen filter is under the vin number on your windowscreen under the bonnet.

octav.ed · 10-05-2007, 15:41

how often are these filters changed? ie is it mileage or years?

mluton · 10-05-2007, 15:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by octav.ed

how often are these filters changed? ie is it mileage or years?

As each service comes along IIRC.

They are cheap, and easy to do. So you could do it more often.

08-05-2007, 14:27	#1
bub Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Greenock, Scotland Posts: 99 Members Car: 2005 1.9 Elegence TDI PD Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Aircon smell I used to have my aircon on all the time but I tried running my 95 mile round trip with it off for 1 week to see if it reduced fuel. it does reduce the amount of fuel used but now I get a smell from the air con "now and again" when I change from say 21 to 18 degrees. Anyone had this happen and more importantly what is it.!!!

08-05-2007, 14:54	#2
anonymouse Nuts Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Greater Manchester Posts: 8,450 Members Car: Fabia vRS Thanks: 152 Thanked 258 Times in 192 Posts	Re: Aircon smell Fungal growth - there are products / sprays available You'll have to do a search - Google etc until someone comes along to help __________________ "Stupidity, if left untreated, is self-correcting." - Heinlein

08-05-2007, 15:28	#3
octaviarsman Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: preston Posts: 215 Members Car: skoda octavia vRS II Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Aircon smell Yeah you buy the spray - stick your aircon in re-circulate mode and spray in the car. Or you could stop being tight and use your air-con!

08-05-2007, 15:57	#4
ap0gee ASZ Eternal Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Leafy Chesh-shire Posts: 6,881 Members Car: Black Magic Fabia vRS Thanks: 353 Thanked 370 Times in 321 Posts	Re: Aircon smell Special Fungal Spray, my ****! Just turn your ventilation fan onto full (on the 'fresh air' setting ), go round to the outside of the car, and put about 20-30 squirts of Dettox or similar into the air inlet, which is at the bottom of the windscreen (follow the noise!) Once the cramp in your spraying hand subsides, you'll be able to enjoy your non-smelly aircon! HTH __________________

08-05-2007, 18:55	#5
dstev2000 Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Back in the Green Posts: 4,036 Members Car: 2 Octavia II's, an L&K combi and a vRS hatch. Thanks: 48 Thanked 168 Times in 153 Posts	Re: Aircon smell It's not fungus, it's just some nasty little germs breeding in your evaporator. Any anti bacterial spray will kill them off but I would recommend the comma branded spray can you can get in Halfords. Shut all windows, air con on full recirc full fan, light the blue touch paper and go have a cup of tea while it works it's magic. I've used them a few times and they are pretty good, use one every 3-6 months depending on how you use the air con and the smells will stay away. __________________ MY08 L&K: Black-Estate-Diesel-Sunset Glass-MFD2-W8 Interior light-Colour coded door strips-LED sidelights and Puddle lights-VAG-COM fettled-Lovely! SWMBO's: MY08 vRS TDI - Standard

08-05-2007, 19:49	#6
mluton Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Birmingham Posts: 6,402 Members Car: Red Octavia vRS 1.8T (20v) Thanks: 46 Thanked 227 Times in 202 Posts	Re: Aircon smell You prompted me to do mine, I've just bought one of these, item 3: Speeding.co.uk Car Accessories Air Con Service Products __________________ Support Briskoda----------------------> Red Skoda Octavia V//RS Mods to date: Carbonio CAI Forge 007 DV Aero Wipers Briskoda Stickers KVW100 GB Wheel Inserts RS Tuning Remap Delocked Piper Cat Back Kenwood KDC-W6541U Fli Twin 12" Active Sub Parrot CK3100 *------------------------------------------------*

08-05-2007, 20:05	#7
dstev2000 Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Back in the Green Posts: 4,036 Members Car: 2 Octavia II's, an L&K combi and a vRS hatch. Thanks: 48 Thanked 168 Times in 153 Posts	Re: Aircon smell I'd love to know what item 2 has in it that boosts cooling by 10 degrees. I wonder if I can put it in all of the undersized air conditioners I've come across over the years IMHO the comma spray is the best of the bunch as it gets EVERYWHERE! some may think that's a bad thing as everywhere includes the windscreen, dash and seats. The advantage is the biocide gets in all the nooks and crannies of the ventilation system and does it's job. __________________ MY08 L&K: Black-Estate-Diesel-Sunset Glass-MFD2-W8 Interior light-Colour coded door strips-LED sidelights and Puddle lights-VAG-COM fettled-Lovely! SWMBO's: MY08 vRS TDI - Standard

08-05-2007, 20:18	#9
dstev2000 Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Back in the Green Posts: 4,036 Members Car: 2 Octavia II's, an L&K combi and a vRS hatch. Thanks: 48 Thanked 168 Times in 153 Posts	Re: Aircon smell Oh dear, not much success then. For some reason I have always had better luck with mine, maybe it's to do with drying the evaporator off when I have finished with the air con Being a non smoker helps loads as well. Nicotene is not good for evaporators or lungs for that matter. __________________ MY08 L&K: Black-Estate-Diesel-Sunset Glass-MFD2-W8 Interior light-Colour coded door strips-LED sidelights and Puddle lights-VAG-COM fettled-Lovely! SWMBO's: MY08 vRS TDI - Standard

08-05-2007, 21:09	#10
smstext 2.0 FSI Sport. Join Date: May 2007 Location: oxon Posts: 9,710 Members Car: Octavia Mk2 FSI Sport Thanks: 11 Thanked 304 Times in 271 Posts	Re: Aircon smell i had this problem with my vauxhall, basically i was told its like a fridge, if you turn off the fridge and keep it shut it eventually starts to smell, same with your air con. Apart from keeping on the air con when you drive I was told to drive it for about 30 minutes once a week with air con on full whack and then drive it for another 30 minutes with air con off but on full heat to dry out the system and that should do the trick. The sprays imho work for a week or two but then youre back to square one.

09-05-2007, 01:49	#11
JPF Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Porto - Portugal Posts: 8 Members Car: Skoda Octavia 2.0 Elegance (2005) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Aircon smell It´s true that air-conditioner filters are great habitats for fungus and bacterias. But that leads to some false concepts: You cannot detect it with the smell, but more important, you cannot kill them with that “easy money making” products. Let me explain: Fungus live in dark places with humidity, and are easy to kill – simply expose them to sunlight for a couple of hours. Bacterias need more aggressive approaches, high temperatures for at least half an hour, or chemicals for a long period of time. As you can see, a spray can never do this. If it’s true that the sprays can kill some, they will kill the weaker (less dangerous) and clean the way for the bad ones to grow without neighbors (natural selection). If you really want to maintain the filter clean, remove it, wash it, leave it for a night in water with Bleach (if the fabricant permit) and then dry it with the sunlight – simple, cheap and effective. About the smell, I think is nothing more than some humidity. As I live in Portugal, in this time of year, I face a temperature of 24ºC during the day and 12ºC at night. So I use the air-con during the day, turn-off at night. In the first minutes I feel that smell, but all I have to do is keep the windows open for a wile. The air-conditioner dries the air, and that is the reason for that smell when you don´t use it for a period of time. So should you keep it always on? Wrong! Not only consumes more, as it tends to over dry the air what isn’t such a good thing for your respiratory system. The procedure smstext described, an open window when you start air-con, and the services are totally effective. For the record I have a son with two years, and since his birth he pass a lot of time with me in the car, so I tend to be over cautious. I’ve done some research on this topic and many informations are a way to sell you products that you don´t need. Don´t need to worry. Quite long reply, and sorry for my english

09-05-2007, 08:45	#12
ap0gee ASZ Eternal Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Leafy Chesh-shire Posts: 6,881 Members Car: Black Magic Fabia vRS Thanks: 353 Thanked 370 Times in 321 Posts	Re: Aircon smell ^ Can't argue with any of that, apart from the bit about washing the pollen filter - they're made of paper, so I wouldn't recommend it! __________________

10-05-2007, 13:14	#13
bub Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Greenock, Scotland Posts: 99 Members Car: 2005 1.9 Elegence TDI PD Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Aircon smell Where are the air con filters located within the engine bay. this will be handy to know when the time comes to buy new ones. Oh, and thanks again for the info. great stuff....

10-05-2007, 15:41	#15
octav.ed Briskodian Join Date: May 2005 Location: belfast Posts: 3,845 Members Car: skoda octavia tdi 130 bhp [170] Thanks: 98 Thanked 64 Times in 56 Posts	Re: Aircon smell how often are these filters changed? ie is it mileage or years? __________________ when i die, bury me upside down so the world can kiss my a.s.s "I spent all my money on cars, booze and women - the rest I just wasted" - George Best. I was so poor growing up...If I wasn't born a boy..I'd have nothing to play with. -Rodney Dangerfield

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