How Dirty Sock Syndrome Can Affect Your Indoor Air Quality

Dirty Socks Syndrome is characterized by a nasty musty odor coming from your air conditioning unit when you first turn on it. This often occurs when dust, moisture, and dirt accumulate on your AC unit’s evaporator coil, attracting mold and mildew to grow within your home. In severe cases, dirty socks can harbor harmful bacteria, yeast, and other fungi, making your residence a hotbed of disease. It can also be caused by a faulty or dirty air conditioning system. If this is the case in your home, you should consider calling an air conditioning repair specialist immediately to ensure that your unit is functioning properly and no further issues can occur.

In some cases, a dirty sock syndrome may also be caused by a malfunctioning fan in your cooling unit. As the cool air moves over your carpet or hardwood floors, it picks up dirt and debris that spill onto the floor. The dirty air then filters through your ventilation system and the smell of mold and mildew usually begins to permeate the rest of your home, causing you to begin to get nosebleeds and a general indoor air odor that you cannot escape.

If you have determined that dirty sock syndrome is the culprit for your mild or severe indoor air quality issue, it is important that you find a solution immediately. You can contact a local air conditioning repair company in your area to assess the situation and determine if an AC repair is necessary. They will likely carry all types of dehumidifiers and air filters, as well as an assortment of different sprays and cleaners that can help reduce the smell. In most cases, AC repair is not necessary; however, you may want to consider cleaning your air filter to minimize future occurrences of the dirty sock syndrome. Having your air filter professionally cleaned every few months can prevent serious and irreversible damage from occurring to both your air conditioning unit and your home’s indoor air quality.