Posted on 9/26/2025
You hop in the car on a warm Arlington afternoon, crank up the air conditioning, and instead of a cool breeze, you get a damp, musty smell. Not exactly the fresh air you were hoping for. That odor is pretty common in humid climates, but it’s also your car’s way of saying the A/C system might need attention. The smell usually means there’s mold, bacteria, or excess moisture hanging around somewhere in the system. While it can feel like just an annoyance, it’s worth looking into before it gets worse. Why Does It Smell Musty When You Turn On the A/C The air conditioning system removes moisture from the air as part of its cooling process. This moisture condenses on the evaporator coil and drains out through a tube. But over time, dirt, pollen, and dust can build up on the coil, creating a damp, dark environment that’s ideal for mold and mildew. When the system sits unused for a while or doesn’t fully dry out, that buildup starts to g ... read more