There is no way anyone drives cars without switching on the air conditioner these days. It has almost come to a point where you switch on the AC just after you start your car. For this reason, AC is a very important part of cars now.
But have you ever experienced the condition, your car AC smells like vinegar when switched on? A foul smell like that of vinegar along with air-conditioning is not at all desirable, right? Worry not! This article will run you through why this happens and how you can fix this issue.
Table of Contents
Reasons Why Your Car AC Smells Like Vinegar
Before going into detail about why your car AC smells like chemicals, let’s see how you can identify on your own why the problem happens. First, you have to identify whether the sour vinegar smell comes out when you turn the air conditioner on or not. Is the smell coming after you switch on the AC? Then you can conclude that the problem is in the air conditioning system
The most common reason why your ac fills up your vehicle with an unpleasant smell is the build-up of organic material In the ac system or vents. This organic material will of course decay, thus emitting the foul vinegar-like smell through your ac. Here are some other reasons why your car’s AC makes you experience a vinegar-like unpleasant smell
1. Moisture
We all know how a car’s AC works, right? It of course does not produce cool air on its own. The air conditioner absorbs moisture and heat from the outside world which is cooler than the air inside your car. It consists of coils that further condense this absorbed moisture freeing it of all the humidity and releases the cool air into the car.
So it is obvious that the coils are surrounded by cooler air than the air around. The air that is absorbed by the air conditioner system forms moisture pockets in the condensation unit of the ac. These are drained outside the cars using drain lines. However, if this moisture fails to get out, it gets stuck inside the closed AC system causing it to emit a vinegar-like smell after a few days.
2. Mold
This cause is usually a continuation of the above-mentioned cause. Moisture unable to get out of your car mostly happens when the drain line has some damage. In such a case, the moisture gets stuck inside your ac system and if the AC is used frequently, there are chances that the unit will become the breeding place for molds and other forms of bacteria.
If this occurs, the cool air that is let out into your car by your air conditioner will carry a foul vinegar-like smell, thanks to the mold and bacteria. In most cases when your car AC smells like vinegar, this is the reason.
3. Other Issues
There can also be other bigger reasons why your car AC smells like vinegar. This can include issues like ozone emissions or battery acid that is leaking. Both of these issues will result in the emission of a strong vinegar-like smell from your car’s air conditioner. In such a case, it’s always best to get your car checked by a mechanic because these issues can have serious results other than just a vinegary smell from your AC.
How To Get Rid Of The Vinegar Smell From Your Car?
There is no way you can adjust to the vinegar smell of your car. You will want to get rid of it. To do so, the first thing you will have to do is to check the drain tube in your car. After locating the drain tube, check if it’s working well. It’s better to take your car to a mechanic than checking it on your own. This is because it will be hard for you to identify if it is working or not on your own.
If the drain tube is undamaged, ask your mechanic to check the presence of mold or bacteria in your air conditioning system. Enquire about how you can kill them all and remove the vinegar smell. It is also better to ensure that they will never breed in your AC system along with this.
If your car is suffering from other issues like ozone emissions and battery leakage, only your mechanic will be able to identify them. Always take your car to a mechanic to get a thorough checkup at regular intervals.
Methods You Can Adopt To Get Rid Of The Vinegar Smell From Your AC
Follow these simple methods to get rid of foul smell in your car ac.
Method 1: Switch Off AC
The first technique you can try is, switching off the AC a few minutes before shutting off your car. But leave the AC fan on and open. This method will help in drying the AC unit, thus letting out all the accumulated moisture.
Method 2: Clean AC Filters
Clean your car’s AC filters at regular intervals. Do not hesitate to replace them if needed. If the air filters stay dirty and old, this can lead to reduced airflow which lets moisture stay inside the system causing the car AC to smell like vinegar.
Method 3: Spray Antiseptic
Spraying antiseptic into the air vents can help in killing the breeding molds and bacteria in the AC system. The air filled with antiseptic will be sucked into the ventilation system and with no time, the parasites will die thus helping you get rid of the vinegar smell.
Method 4: Using Baking Soda
Methods like keeping an open bottle of baking soda or good essential in your car for some time may also help. This will help get rid of the vinegar smell from your car. This technique is temporary because it only removes the smell left back in your car. The smell will again return when you switch on your AC again, so it’s better to remove the smell altogether than temporarily.
Frequently Asked Questions:
So,here are some of the frequently asked questions about why do my car vents smell like vinegar , why does my car ac smell bad?-
Why Do My Car Vents Smell Like Vinegar?
The number one reason your car vents smell like vinegar is trapped moisture, which may come from either overuse or disuse of your vehicle. Other causes of that acidic smell include mold or bacteria buildup, damaged drain tubes, gas leaks, and other air-conditioning system malfunctions
Why Does My Car’s Ac Smell Bad?
One big reason why your car AC might be smelling weird is due to the accumulation of water in the drip lines or ducts. After a few time, fungus and mold started to grow in the accumulated water that produces a stale odor that you smell from your car’s AC.
How Do I Get Moisture Out Of My Car Air Conditioner?
Dirty air filters reduce airflow through your AC and help moisture remain inside the unit. Be sure to replace the AC filters as often as recommended by the manufacturer of your vehicle. Spray an antiseptic into the exterior air vents (where your car pulls air from outside into the car from).
Why Does My Car Smell Like Moist Air?
When your car’s air conditioning system has not been used for a while (especially during the winter season), microorganisms such as bacteria and fungus can begin to populate and produce a foul smell.
Why Is There Mold On The Inside Of My Car?
More likely than not, you’ve built up some mold and mildew thanks to moisture in your AC system. This moisture occurs naturally, and is part of the car, but if left for too long it can create mold
How Do I Get Rid Of Mold In My Car Vents?
Spray an antiseptic into the exterior air vents (where your car pulls air from outside into the car from). Be sure your AC is set to the setting that pulls air from outside in, so that the spray is pulled into the ventilation system and can directly work at killing of mold and bacteria.
Conclusion
So if you notice that your car AC smells sour, you needn’t worry. Most of the time, this condition happens due to not-so-harmful reasons. But deciding to ignore the issue and tolerate the smell is not a good idea. Adopt the methods mentioned in this article to completely wipe out the smell and do the necessary to not let the smell return.
