Hi,

We had a new trane 5 ton two compressor ac/heat pump installed last Sept. 26. About two weeks ago we noticed a really strong, musty smell coming from the vents. It was a hot day, over 90, and my husband had had the unit in the fan on all the time setting. The smell is only there when the compressor is on. It went away after a couple of hours. Yesterday, it was there again, only when the compressor was on and then again it faded after a couple of hours. I called the company who installed it, and the owner, not a repairman came by. He said he could not smell anything. Had my neighbor come over and she smelled it right away. It started today just after lunch time. It was over 90 again. And again it faded away after a couple of hours. Any clue what might be going on? The factory rep is supposed to come on Monday and check it out.

Thanks,
Mary

The only thing I have ever heard of with that is what they call dirty sock sydrome, which is caused by bacteria build up on the coil. But if this is brand new it could be coming from somewhere else.

Remember that it's a central heat and air system. It sucks air from all of the house and puts it out the supply vents into each room. If you cook a cake in the kitchen you will smell it in the master bed room if the a/c is running. Check your drains in your house - clothes washer, dish washer, bath rooms you may have a bad sewer drain and the fan coil is helping spread the smell when its on.

Had a brand new Trane heat pump and air handler installed--immediately began to emit bad smelling odor. The problem was obvious--the air handler is lined with a soft plastic and it is outgassing due to the heat from the coils proximity. It is noxious and unhealthy. Still in discussion with the installer and Trane at this point. The conversion to plastic from mental frames and parts is at the heart of this toxic problem.

Just had a new Trane heat pump and air exchange installed. It immediately began emitting a strong smell. A little investigation indicated that the plastic housing and parts were outgassing due to their proximity to the coils when heating. The plastic in the new air handlers is toxic when in proximity to the heated coils. Still in discussion as what to do.

Could someone please tell me how to test for the fumes. They have badges for monitoring air that read the air quality, but you have to know the name of the fumes to test for. Ex. CO2, CO. hydrogen sulfide, etc. What would I test for.

The list of badges available is here

http://www.afcintl.com/product/tabid/93/productid/129/sename/safeair-direct-read-colorimetric-badges-from-morphix-technologies/default.aspx

With that answer, I can go to the city and see what the limits are and get help with Trane.

My email is [email protected]

Could you please update me on this problem. I had two Trane systems installed and get a smell from both. I had one installed in my business which I have since sold and one in my home. We noticed the smell almost immediately from both. It seems to appear after the coils have been allowed to dry out---like when switching to heat mode but it is not a heating coil smell. The most prevalent time is when you go on vacation and set the thermostat higher and then when you return it is very bad---brings tears to your eyes. We live in Florida. I believe the fan recirculates air on a regular basis even when the compressor does not kick on. Of course, the repair company never smells anything but I believe that this may be a common Trane problem and a cover-up is going on because there would be widespread recalls and a bad name for Trane !

Do you have a heat pump? Do you know if your coil is BEFORE the blower motor or AFTER? This makes a difference.

Did this ever get resolved? We are having a similar problem with a unit installed a couple months ago