Posted on 12/19/2025
You turn on the A/C, expect clean, cool air, and instead get a whiff of something musty, sour, or just plain nasty. Once you notice it, you cannot ignore it, and every drive feels less comfortable. A smelly A/C is more than an annoyance, it is a sign that something inside the system or cabin needs attention. Why Your Car’s A/C Starts to SmellYour A/C system cools the air by running it across a very cold evaporator inside the dash. As warm, humid air hits that cold surface, moisture condenses and drains away. When everything is clean and draining well, you never think about it. Over time, dust, pollen, and tiny debris stick to that damp surface. Bacteria and mold love that environment, especially in a warm climate with plenty of humidity. That is when odors begin to build. Once the smell is present, it usually gets worse each time the system runs without being cleaned. Common A/C Odor ... read more