Question from Diane
I had my a/c serviced and had them use peroxide to disinfect and follow with reverse osmosis water. My upstairs unit has a chemical smell in the air now. the only other addition was a new filter media by Lennox called Healthy Climate. Do you have any ideas what could be causing it? I am having them switch to the Spacegaurd media to see if that makes a difference but the odor is really strong in one of my rooms and the fan and unit have been off for over 24 hours. appreciate any suggestions on flushing the system out. HVAC owner does not know what it could be either. Thanks
Debra’s Answer
I don’t know what this odor could be.
Readers? Any experience with this?
thanks for the advice. Do you know where the evaporator coils are? I think it is the peroxide and will try to get someone to spray plain water on them. It was an MCS HVAC consultant who told me to use the peroxide. I think I am his first customer who was sensitive to it. they changed the filters again back to my old spacegaurd ones. I am sad to think there is a boicide in something I have tolerated for so long. I do not know how to tell which it is but I have had the spacegaurds changed for 20 years without a reaction before.
Where and what kind of food grade cleaner did you get? I would not want to volatize my household cleaners in there either. I though peroxide would be safe because I use it for many other uses. the air is blowing the smell constantly through both floors now.
Debbie- what did you use in Florida to kill mold in the air conditioners? I had a musty smell before so I wanted to try and get rid of that but this is worse. I am reacting all the time that they run and having asthma 24/7. any further advice is appreciated!
sounds like you need to clean the evaporator coil, they have a food grade cleaner for theses coils i once had the same problem! put cleaner in a spray bottle and let it soak in well and then rinse.
Ive read that hydrogen peroxide on the fins/coils can create a chemical reaction with the metals, specifically the copper, which causes an odor. Just a thought…
If you actually witnessed service personnel using hydrogen peroxide and there have been no other changes in your environment, it might be worth checking to see if your filter has an integrated biocide. (This is happening more frequently now, due to the public’s concern with mould.)