Why does my air conditioner in my SUV smell like wet dog when I start it?

Question

I have a 2004 Trailblazer and lately whenever I start my air conditioner it smells like stale water or something really nasty. The smell comes out only for a few seconds. This has never happened before. Does anyone know what it can be or how to fix it?

Answer 1

This is a common problem in the high humidity of the south. What seems to happen is the moisture iin the air condenses on the evaporator coils while the A/C is on, then when you stop your car, it melts off and can grow mold in the box that houses the evaporator.
You can kill this off by carefully pouring a mixture of bleach and water down the intake (vents between the hood and windshield), let it sit for 5 minutes, then rinse with fresh water. You may have to repeat this a couple of times to kill everything off.
After you have fixed this problem, you should get in the habit of turning off you A/C (switch to the vent setting) as you come to your destination, and allow the air blowing out in the car to start to be warm like the outside air.

Answer 2

Make sure the drain tube in the evaporator case is not partially plugged. If water collects in the evaporator case due to poor drainage, it will stagnate and you will get the smell you are describing. Once the drain tube is clear fixing it can be a problem. You have to get to the evaporator and clean it out using a disinfectant.

Answer 3

Has lots to do with the breed, some breeds have oily pores and skin and double coats to insulate themselves, they are able to have greater of an smell than a single lined breed. the different substantial rationalization for smell is what the dogs eats - feed a stable dry with meat because of the fact the 1st element, no corn meal fillers - in different words, no food market or Walmart junk - and your dogs will easily have much less smell. 0.33 reason could be a yeast or fungus an infection, yet you may in all probability see that, yet verify your dogs's ears to make specific. My 5 dachshunds have not any "moist dogs" smell in any respect, certainly one of them, a chocolate/tan does have a particularly yeasty smell, yet it quite is because of the fact he has an oily coat and was services to fungus or yeast infections of his coat and ears. I switched him to Canidae hen and Rice and there at the instant are not from now on infections and much less smell. We had a labrador/gsd blend for practically 18 years, he had the oily lab undercoat and continuously smelled, grew to become into exceptionally undesirable interior the summertime, so he had to have known baths. Dachshunds basically get bathed as quickly as a month in the previous the hot dose of Advantix, yet they are very clean or perhaps lick themselves at cases, like cats --- till of direction, they discover something wonderfully lifeless and roll in it - yet this is an entire distinctive rely.

Answer 4

The drain pipe for condensat may be clogged or you have some debree (e.g leafs) that collects moisture under the lower windshield panel. Ask your mechanic to check it. There is also a spray that kills the bacteria and reduces the odor, you can find it in auto parts store.

Answer 5

Dont worry about it, its probably the trapped air and humidity.

Answer 6

First, get rid of the dog, if that doesn't work, get rid of the SUV!