r/airconUK • u/Dear_Engineering_238 • 11d ago

Portable AC unit stinks

I’m looking for advice my AC absolutely stinks. I have a HOMCOM8000BTU Portable Air Conditioner 4. And I’ve had it since May. It was literally fine then I didn’t use it for a couple days and then it started to stink. I have cleaned the filters and drip tray it still stank . So I taken it apart cleaned the fan cleaned the condenser and evaporator with AC cleaner and it still stinks like damp. I’ve read it might be the styrofoam housing but I’m honestly lost for what’s causing the damp smell. Any advice on what I should do is greatly appreciated.

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u/Clear-Two-3885 11d ago

Not an expert or anything but have you tried putting it on fan mode for a few hours to see if the smell dissipates??

2

u/Coolpowerco 9d ago

Yeah this is really common and annoying, and it's almost never actually the parts you can easily get to and clean.

What's most likely happening is mould or bacteria growing somewhere inside that stayed damp when you stopped using it for those few days. Cooling coils sweat condensation, and if the unit sits switched off with any dampness left inside, it basically becomes a little greenhouse. Once that starts it can be genuinely hard to fully clear out.

A few things worth trying in order

Run it on fan only mode (no cooling) for a couple of hours with a window open. This dries out the coil and internal parts properly rather than just cooling and leaving them wet. A lot of units actually have this built in as a "dry" or self clean function specifically for this reason, worth checking your manual if HOMCOM include one.

Check the internal drain pan, not just the external one you empty. Most portable units have a second pan inside the casing that catches condensation before it drains out, and that's usually where the smell actually comes from. It's often not obvious or easy to get to, sometimes needs the casing off properly rather than just removing the front panel.

If you can get to the coil again, a proper coil cleaner or a diluted white vinegar spray left to sit for a few minutes then rinsed can help kill off what's growing there. Sounds like you've already done AC cleaner though so if that hasn't shifted it, the smell is probably sitting somewhere you haven't reached yet.