Does your home smell musty when you turn on the HVAC? If so, you could be dealing with Dirty Sock Syndrome. This has nothing to do with laundry and everything to do with the condition of your central air conditioning system. If you’re experiencing this problem, you might want to contact Maple Air Heating and Cooling serving the Greater Toronto Area.

What Is Dirty Sock Syndrome?
Dirty Sock Syndrome is what HVAC technicians and experts call the stale, mildew-like odour that emanates from your vents when you activate your air conditioner or heat pump. This problem is especially harmful to people with respiratory conditions, such as allergies or asthma. It also impacts those who are sensitive to mold and people with compromised immunity.

How Does Dirty Sock Syndrome Occur?
Lack of air conditioner maintenance in the Greater Toronto Area contributes to Dirty Sock Syndrome. The evaporator coils, which are housed in the indoor air handler, absorb warm air from your home so that it can be expelled outside. But the air inside of your home contains bacteria and microbes. These can build up on the evaporator coils. In addition, coils that aren’t cleaned regularly become coated with moisture, dirt and dust.

That grime becomes food for the bacteria, which thrive in a moist, dirty environment. It’s similar to what happens when you throw your dirty gym clothes in a bag for a few days. The moldy, stuffy smell that develops comes from bacteria. Turning on your air conditioner sends germs from the evaporator coil through the air ducts and into your space.

Dirty Sock Syndrome is especially prevalent in the fall and spring. Your HVAC system often transitions from cooling to heating during these seasons, generating extra condensation and making odours worse. Air conditioner maintenance in the Greater Toronto Area with the help of Maple Air Heating and Cooling can help prevent this issue.

What Can Be Done to Fix Dirty Sock Syndrome?
Avoid dirty sock syndrome by keeping evaporator coils clean. This is especially important for high-efficiency coils, which have lots of tight spaces that hold onto dirt and bacteria. Changing your air filters regularly helps prevent grime buildup.

If you already have Dirty Sock Syndrome, get your coils professionally cleaned. Maple Air Heating and Cooling, serving the Greater Toronto Area, can inspect and clean your evaporator coils to remove the source of the odour. If the problem is severe, we can replace the coils. Contact us to learn more about preventing and treating Dirty Sock Syndrome for a healthy, clean-smelling environment.