Air conditioners are designed to improve indoor air quality by cooling and filtering the air. In Singapore’s tropical climate, they’re also crucial for maintaining a comfortable and healthy environment. While scents and air fresheners can make your air conditioning system emit a floral or fruity aroma, a smelly air conditioner can be indicative of an underlying problem with your air conditioner.
Feet smell, also known as dirty sock syndrome, can cause your air conditioner to emit an odor similar to gym socks, resulting from bacteria, stagnant water, or mildew buildup. If you notice such odors, it's best to call a technician to assess and resolve the issue, ensuring your unit functions optimally.
Common Causes of Air Conditioner Smells Like Feet
Cause #1: Clammy Stagnant Water
If your air conditioner smells like feet or dirty socks, there is a high chance you have moisture problems. Your AC may be leaking water, the condensate drainage system may have overflowed, or your drain lines may be clogged. All these cause bacteria to form in the water, and cause the pungent smell of feet to emit from your air conditioner.
Check your air conditioner for any signs of stagnant water. More often than not, you will notice your AC unit freeze up or leak water from its vents when overflowing with condensation. These symptoms, coupled with an air conditioner that smells like feet, indicate a blockage in your system.
Quick Fix
Remove the water from the pan and clean it with soap and water to kill off any microbes living on the surface. Let the pan dry before placing it back into your HVAC system. With Singapore’s humid climate, regular AC maintenance every 3-6 months can prevent moisture-related issues.
Cause #2: Bacterial and Mold Growth
That foot or sock smell coming from your air conditioning unit is emitted by bacteria colonies that thrive in moisture. These bacteria are not directly harmful but can eat through your air conditioning system over time and continue to emit foul smells. Bacteria multiply quickly, and microorganisms can overtake your entire air conditioning system.
Quick Fix
When dealing with bacterial growth, it is best to have the air conditioner deep cleaned to remove the odor and kill off any bacteria living inside. Luce is Singapore's best cooling company that can clean and disinfect your AC unit so you can keep your home healthy!
Our aircon chemical wash can help eliminate stubborn bacterial buildup that may cause aircon to smell like feet!
Cause #3: Poor Air Circulation and Dirty Filters
Many Singaporean homes, especially HDB flats and condos have enclosed spaces with limited ventilation. If air filters are clogged with dust and moisture, they can trap bacteria and contribute to unpleasant odors, such as air conditioner smells like feet.
Quick Fix
Clean or replace air filters every 1-3 months, and consider using antibacterial sprays designed for AC units to clean them. To improve air circulation in a home, open windows occasionally to allow fresh air in. Additionally, if the humidity in your home is quite high, consider purchasing a dehumidifier to reduce moisture in the room.
How to Remove the Foot Smell from Your AC Unit?
Clean the Drain Pan
Cleaning the drain pan is much like cleaning the air filter of your AC unit. You will need to dismantle the pan from your air conditioner and wash it under running tap water. Use an antibacterial soap to sanitize the pan, and scrub it clean with a cleaning brush. The unpleasant odor should be completely gone.
Clean the Air Conditioner
Cleaning the air conditioner will help keep odors at bay, particularly if the air conditioner smells bad due to bacteria or fungi. Cleaning the AC unit will remove these microorganisms and prevent them from taking shelter in your home. Bacteria and fungi contribute to the majority of common air conditioner smells, so keeping them at bay should provide you with clean air.
Schedule Professional Maintenance
Professional air conditioner cleaning and maintenance will improve your overall indoor air quality. Contact a licensed HVAC technician to clean and check your unit for any causes of odor and keep your air conditioning system functioning properly.
Professional maintenance will get rid of various air conditioner smells, like an air conditioner burning smell, musty odors, rotten eggs smell, and other odors by fixing the root cause of the problem. Maintenance will also determine external sources of the AC smells coming from your unit, like natural gas leaks from your gas supply, exhaust fumes from cars passing by, and cigarette smoke smells from household members smoking indoors.
Helpful Tip: Natural gas would have a rotten egg odor. If you suspect a gas leak in your home, contact your gas company immediately and vacate the premises. Turn all electronic devices off, and cut the electrical power whenever possible.
Tips to Prevent Air Conditioner Smells Like Feet in the Future
If your air conditioner smells like feet, taking preventive measures can help ensure fresh, clean air circulation in your home. Here’s what you can do:
- Regularly clean or replace the air filter at least once every 1-3 months.
- Ensure the condensate drain pan and pipes are free from blockages to prevent stagnant water buildup.
- Use an air purifier to filter bacteria and mold spores. Air purifiers are one of the best investments to reduce the risk of foul smell.
- Run the AC in dry mode to help control humidity, this will prevent bacteria and mold from thriving.
Hiring a professional AC cleaner in Singapore is also the best way to prevent foot odor in AC. Our experienced and knowledgeable technicians have been trusted by homeowners and business owners across Singapore to keep their aircon in top shape. Luce’s technician can identify and fix AC problems before they lead to major problems, as well as deep clean the unit—leaving your air conditioning fresh and odor-free at all times!
Contact us today and schedule a cleaning checkup with one of our technicians!
Check out our article on why ac vent smells like sewage!
