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Out with the old, in with the fly: Welcome to Dragonfly Heating & Cooling - formerly known as All Pro Air!

8 Ways To Fix A Musty Air Conditioner in Riverside, CA.


When your air conditioner is functioning properly, it shouldn’t create any sort of unpleasant odor in your home. If your Riverside, CA home constantly smells damp, dusty, or moldy, your cooling system may be to blame. The good news is that there are eight easy ways to both solve the problem and keep it from recurring.

1. CHECK AND CHANGE YOUR HVAC AIR FILTER

Clogged HVAC filters inhibit airflow. As a result, air conditioners must work harder to pull air in and distribute it. When paired with limited air movement, this extra stress causes excess moisture in air ducts, and it creates the perfect conditions for mold development.

There’s also the fact that dirty air filters harbor dust, dander, fur, and other allergens and contaminants that they’ve collected over time. If you forget to change your HVAC air filter for too long, thick clumps of this debris can get blown off and distributed with your conditioned air.

HVAC air filters should be inspected once each month. Filter changes should be performed once every one to three months based on your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ), air conditioner use, and other factors. When you’re greeted by a strong, musty odor upon turning your AC system on, always check the air filter first.

It’s also important to make sure that you’re using the correct filter type and size. HVAC air filters are issued with maximum efficiency reporting value (MERV) ratings. The higher a filter’s MERV rating is, the more particulates it’s able to collect. High-rated filters can capture and retain smaller-sized particulates than standard air filters can. However, if you choose an option that’s rated too high, its enhanced filtration abilities could impede airflow, cause humidity problems, and create perfect conditions for musty odors. If you’ve recently upgraded your HVAC air filter, have us check it out to make sure that it’s a good fit for your HVAC system.

2. INSPECT THE AC CONDENSATE DRAIN FOR CLOGS

As warm air passes over an air conditioner’s evaporator coils, moisture and heat are absorbed, and condensation forms. This condensation drips down the evaporator coil into the condensate pan. It is then routed out of the home via the condensate drain.

If the condensate drain is ever clogged or slow-moving, bacteria, mold, and other pathogens can flourish. When paired with stagnant water, these germs will fill your home with a pungent, lingering smell. We can clear your condensate drain as needed. We can also check the drain pan for cracks, holes, and other structural damage.

3. CLEAN YOUR AIR CONDITIONER’S COILS

Excessively dirty evaporator coils can also lead to funky AC odors. AC coils are where heat transfer takes place and thus, they’re constantly subjected to the unfiltered outside air that gets pulled in. Over time, this can leave them coated in dirt, pollen, and other elements. Given that moisture is constantly being produced here during heat transfer, dirty evaporator coils are often riddled with odor-causing germs. During routine AC maintenance, your air conditioner’s evaporator coil and condenser coil will both be thoroughly inspected and cleaned.

4. SCHEDULE AIR DUCT CLEANING

Most homes only need their air ducts cleaned about once every three to five years. However, if you have one or more pressing IAQ concerns, you might want to schedule these services more often. HVAC air duct cleaning eliminates trapped particulates that have bypassed the HVAC air filter, or have found their way in via rips, tears, or other structural damage. During duct cleaning service, all internal build-ups of debris are removed, and structural issues are identified and repaired.

5. WIPE DOWN ALL AIR REGISTERS, GRILLES, AND VENTS

If you have an excessively dirty air filter, you can expect to find the same lint-like build-ups that accumulate on these components at all air registers, vents, or grilles. You can wipe these features off with a soft, damp cloth. If necessary, you can also remove vent covers and grilles, and gently suction out debris with your vacuum cleaner’s hose and attachments.

6. SCHEDULE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

If you’re handy, there’s a fair amount of AC maintenance that you can safely do on your own. Regularly changing your HVAC air filter and periodically wiping down HVAC air grilles will keep your indoor air quality high. However, air conditioners also require a number of yearly maintenance tasks that homeowners shouldn’t perform. To keep your AC in top condition, you need the help of a professional.

If you’ve been neglecting annual AC tune-ups for quite some time, this may be the source of your trouble. During AC maintenance service, we inspect condensate pans and condensate drain lines, clean AC coils, remove blockages, and ensure balanced humidity and airflow. All these things contribute to healthier and fresher-smelling indoor air, and better overall AC performance. Our AC tune-up service offers the perfect opportunity to identify the underlying causes of unpleasant AC odors and resolve them.

7. INVEST IN PEST MANAGEMENT SERVICE

At times, air ducts may be harboring pests or the carcasses of animals that have wandered into these systems before getting trapped. Raccoon, mice, and other small to medium-sized animals frequently enter air ducts in search of shelter and warmth. If your air ducts smell especially rank or if you notice strange noises coming from your ductwork, you should contact a pest control service.

Pest problems in HVAC air ducts are common in homes that are struggling with pests in other areas. If you’re currently battling a rodent infestation in your basement or attic, you can’t assume that your HVAC air ducts are unaffected. Pest control companies can identify viable points of entry in your ducting, remove dead or dying animals, and establish an ongoing pest management plan for prevention. For problems like these, we’re here to help too. We can deodorize and disinfect all affected areas, shore up access points, and repair damaged ducting or other damaged HVAC features.

8. CONSIDER THE BENEFITS OF INTEGRATED HVAC ACCESSORIES

Among the most common causes of musty AC smells is excess moisture. This could be excess moisture in your air ducts due to a dirty, blocked filter, or excess moisture as the result of an obstructed condensate drain. However, in some instances, high levels of indoor humidity are to blame for the moisture gathering in your system. You may have an especially large household with lots of active bodies, poor ventilation, under-performing exhaust fans, or other moisture-generating issues that are specific to your home or family.

For issues like these, whole-house dehumidification could be the best solution. In instances in which indoor air is notably low in quality and persistently foul-smelling, air scrubbers, air purifiers, or media filters might be required. We can help you find the right integrated HVAC accessories for improving your IAQ. For stubborn AC odors that aren’t responsive to other solutions, call us for an indoor air quality consultation.

We’ve been proudly serving residents of Riverside, CA, and the surrounding area since 2010. We offer heating, cooling, and indoor air quality services. We also provide smart thermostats and ductless mini-splits. If you need help fixing your musty air conditioner, give Dragonfly Heating & Cooling a call.

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Christopher E.
Christopher E.
1738600707
Jared D.
Jared D.
1738541537
Got a concrete patio put in where my condenser units were and Dragon Fly came out to lift my units while the pad was poured. My concrete guy didn’t even realize that was an option. Super friendly and professional staff. Highly recommend these guys.
Brad C.
Brad C.
1738007768
Excellent job, excellent service...wonderful staff.
Mark T.
Mark T.
1737843024
Great experience! Quick and professional. They did not try and upsell unnecessary products or services. They diagnosed the problem, corrected the issue, and the heater works great now. Thanks Josh!
jessica K.
jessica K.
1736865237
Professional, on time, reliable what more could you ask for? Glad we gave dragonfly a call to check out our system and give his advice. We have used them multiple times and they are always on time and reliable.
Sydney H.
Sydney H.
1736198427
My family has trusted Dragonfly for the last 10+ or so years and they haven’t disappointed. A couple years ago they’ve replaced my AC, relocated my water heater and installed a whole house fan. Each time they have come out, they have been professional, informative, helpful and kind. With each estimate I’ve requested, they have been timely and always have provided competitive pricing.They’re staff from the fabulous gals in the office, to Jeff who led the install, to their owners Sheldon and Barry really set them apart. Such an AMAZING and TRUSTWORTHY group. So so thankful!
Derek C.
Derek C.
1734378737
Had Austin out for a furnace tuneup. He helpfully and clearly explained status of my furnace, some areas to consider, and resolved a noise.
Glenn J.
Glenn J.
1733770791
Marah
Marah
1733511660
Wow! The company has an outstanding reputation to begin with. They completed duct work and replaced water heater in a portion of a day and were professional and informative whilst doing so.Companies like this that are effective and HONEST are few and far between and I’m so glad we found them!
Melinda R.
Melinda R.
1733507682
The professional service is A+++. Austin was great 😊
Humberto G.
Humberto G.
1733439169
Friendly customer service , thank you! Austin is great! He’s well informed and always tries to provide the best service.
Emilio M.
Emilio M.
1732563537
Thank you for the great service again! I do appreciate the communication with my pre/post appointment! Another great service by Dustin! Thanks again Dustin! You rock!
Jason N.
Jason N.
1732551352
Been a customer for many years and do not call any other A/C company. Honest, fair and always professional.
Marc S.
Marc S.
1732220674
Always ask for Dustin for anything complicated. He is your man
Benedict V.
Benedict V.
1732216512
I appreciates the service done on our heating furnace. Service technician Austin is very knowledgeable, and explained to me the condition of our heating furnace. In addition he walk me through the things to look in our water heater tank in order to avoid major damage to our water heater. I am very satisfied and highly recommend Dragonfly Heating and cooling for preventive maintenance service. To all the crew of Dragonfly thank you very much….
Jim J.
Jim J.
1732135842
Been a customer with Dragonfly for years. I needed immediate help and they sent me a technician within a few hours. Great service you can count on
D M.
D M.
1731975305
I had my heater inspected and prepared for the winter ahead by Dragonfly HVAC company today. My technician was Austin, he is thorough and knowledgeable. He replaced my filter and cleaned some electrical connections in addition to testing my motors for amperage draw, and my capacitors for variance. In other words, my system is now ready to perform its work to keep my home comfortable and warm.
famvillal99
famvillal99
1731639053
Trevor our tech was excellent!! He explained everything as he was going. Got my heater back on track! I definitely recommend Dragonfly!
Joe C.
Joe C.
1731538170
The All pro team were fantastic to work with. From the salesman to the installers. Very professional. 3 days to install, easy financing and passed city inspections on first go around.
Karl P.
Karl P.
1730915058
Itrice S.
Itrice S.
1730754661
Josh explained everything he was doing and gave good recommendations. Looking forward to working with this company in the future.
Cherylyn S.
Cherylyn S.
1730751563
On time and they make sure that the winter months will be warm. Great company!🤗💯
Deirdre K.
Deirdre K.
1730331103
They come out quickly, do a good job. Provide any information requested and explain their recommendations. They also do whatever they can to give you a better offer than you may already have.
Roy P.
Roy P.
1730149539
helix fury (.
helix fury (.
1729877561
Choose this company for your HVAC needs. Austin did the services in a most skilled and professional way. I am very pleased and happy with the services performed. A big endorsement for Dragonfly HVAC. The service van looks cool too!!!
Lana B
Lana B
1729812067
I came across this company via Lowe’s and met Josh. Not only was he professional, but he gave my tips on how to keep up with how to maintain my HVAC system.So I called All Pro again today for a yearly maintenance and Josh came by again.Josh was very nice and professional.Great experience.Update 3/25/22Once again, All Pro Air did not disappoint. As long as Josh is working at this company, I will continue to give them my service. Thank you again Josh.Update 10/2024Had my AC serviced by Josh. Another great experience with him and this company. He is very knowledgeable and personable.
SUPREME VISION C.
SUPREME VISION C.
1728605961
Nice and on time
Fred N.
Fred N.
1728436585
Austin was on time and prepared. He set to his job quickly and efficiently, but still made us comfortable with what he was doing. He communicated the whole time and never rushed through his work.
Peggy B.
Peggy B.
1727977775
Always professional, efficient, and skilled. Highly recommend.
Mahum Shere A.
Mahum Shere A.
1727456419
Josh came out today to assess our A/C system and the reason it’s not cooling. He really did a great job explaining the issue and the options. I appreciate it. He seemed like a very honest and knowledgeable person.
Gary P.
Gary P.
1727202050
Josh was very thorough and informative. Was on time and did a great job. Very pleased.
Lorraine E.
Lorraine E.
1726075114
On time, friendly, courteous and professional.
Ed C.
Ed C.
1726010411
Technician was prompt and resolved the issue
Raquel B.
Raquel B.
1725905396
A/C broke down last Saturday, up and running by 2 pm The next day.Thank you!
Ben M.
Ben M.
1725895790
Dragonfly leadership went above and beyond to help my family out with an AC failure during a brutal heat wave. They were understandably very busy but they fit us in. The technician was awesome. Highly recommend.
Cliff L
Cliff L
1725662056
This is the 4th time I’ve used Dragonfly. The workers are always nice, polite, quick and honest! Very happy with them and I will not use another company!!!
Shirley H.
Shirley H.
1725415845
I am ALWAYS very happy with the service I receive from Dragonfly Heating and Cooling! Austin, the technician, is completely knowledgeable, super friendly and always explains things to where I can understand them.
Cynthia L.
Cynthia L.
1725392451
Great response and absolutely wonderful service highly recommend
Josephus G. A.
Josephus G. A.
1724961023
My provider Mr. Medina, was very competent of A/C and heating, Mr Medina was knowledgeable and able to assess the problems that I had, he change out the filters check my heater AC in the attic and my thermostat and gave me professional advice on maintenance the work was completed in a timely manner.
Thao B.
Thao B.
1724715817
By chance I knew Dragonfly Heating and Cooling through an electrician. I am very satisfied with their service. I am myself is a skilled worker and I like the work done by real professional job. I am highly recommend this company for anyone any families who need a good and qualified services. Thanks for the wonderful job of your technicians. Thanks alot my AC is working well. I am really appreciate your well done job.
Ryan B.
Ryan B.
1724439028
Drangonfly operates a business of integrity. They showed up 5 min early of the 4 hour window which was a good surprise. They diagnosed the problem in 5 min and went over our options. If you want a quality installer who will not deceive you, and relies on quality and word of mouth satisfaction, give them a try.
Dan B.
Dan B.
1724220170
Dragonfly heating and cooling (used to be All Pro Air) is a great customer service and quality oriented company. We have used them numerous times to upgrade and maintain our home.First we used them to install an all house fan in the attic which is extremely useful in the summer months with cooler nights which saves us greatly on our electric bill!Then we used them to replace our entire ducting in our attic as certain rooms had limited to no airflow and would not cool down. They discovered some crushed ducts and we decided to replace it all. Good price, and even better customer service! When I called the next day saying there was still an imbalance between rooms, they sent one of their install managers who personally tweaked the ducts until it was just as we wanted it.Third we had our blower motor and wheel fail in an original furnace and decided to replace the furnace and coil (trouble in buying a 40 year home with original parts!). They came and installed professionally and provided us a temporary mobile cooler. The next day, the refrigerant line froze over so after calling they sent someone same day who changed the charge level to ensure we were good to go. A month later, our furnace started rattling even though it was working, and after calling they sent someone next day who then replaced blower wheel, identified issue, and made the configuration more efficient. Yes there have been minor issues, but the customer service is what makes them the top choice in the area. And their prices are honest and competitive.Their techs are also professional, friendly, and willing to answer all my HVAC questions. In every experience, they provided good service and were courteous to our home and property.Highly recommend and will use into the future for any HVAC needs we might need.
Wade T.
Wade T.
1723582731
A big THANK YOU to our fantastic tech--Josh, Barry, and Lori for fixing our Air Conditioning on a sunny 95 degree SoCal day!Dragonfly Heating & Cooling came out and got our air conditioner fixed and running within 2 hours of our call to them for help this morning.We are incredibly grateful for their help, the top-notch customer service, and friendly staff! If you have any heating/cooling needs, we 1000% recommend Dragonfly! DEAL WITH CONFIDENCE!
Monica G.
Monica G.
1723256555
Our AC was blowing hot air - they were able to get Josh to come by much earlier than expected. He was professional, thorough, and explained things in a way that I could understand them. Thanks!
Mix N
Mix N
1722286200
Wonderful, professional, and honest business. Would recommend to family and friends!!
Kat M.
Kat M.
1722139956
Trevor was great! We are looking around for estimates to replace our old ductwork (which is 20+ years old). Yesterday, Dragonfly sent Trevor out to do the estimate. Trevor was professional, friendly hard working and seemed very honest. It was almost like talking to a trusted friend. He wasnt in a hurry like many were to get in and out due to the heat (which I understand) but instead he took pride in his work by being thorough. He took pictures of our horrendous ductwork and educated us on our ducts and how they're supposed to be designed for efficiency (which ours are not). It was very refreshing to speak to an honest person working for an honest company. Its unfortunate but its not common. I mean he even offered to paint the covers to our access spaces because they had dirty finger prints. May God bless this company and their employees 🙏🏽
Denise J.
Denise J.
1722015668
Yesterday on 7/26/24 my A/C completely stop blowing cool air. I immediately called the HVAC company that installed my new A/C in 2018 and was told they couldn’t make it out until Wednesday of next week. Therefore I went on “What’s up Corona” on Facebook to get recommendations on A/C repair. Dragonfly Heating & Cooling was recommended on so many Facebook posts that I went with them. I called and Lori was so helpful/courteous and had me booked for the very next morning. The temp in my home was at 89 and unbearable. This morning the HVAC Tech Josh was on time and diagnosed the problem and immediately fixed it. We had cool air in minutes. I’m one happy customer. Going forward I will call on Dragonfly Heating & Cooling if needed. Thank you
Strat58 C.
Strat58 C.
1721319970
Straight shooters. My new heat pump system was installed professionally and works as advertised. From start to finish, Dragonfly Heating and Cooling did a good job.The diagnosis of my old system was straightforward and all of my options were explained. With the purchase of the new HVAC system, Dragonfly's representative threw in a new Wi-Fi thermostat and a great capacitor.The installation crew was on time, clean and professional. The new heat pump HVAC system was installed like clockwork. The installation manager arrived towards the end to troubleshoot and finish up. It works.Initially the invoice did not specify the system information. Dragonfly then met my documentation needs, to enable rebates from my utility company and on tax returns. Also having the invoice with full information will enable warranty claims, which I hope to never need.In sum, Dragonfly did a very professional job installing the new ACPro heatpump HVAC system. I sincerely appreciate it.
Lori S.
Lori S.
1721168381
He was here less a hour and fix our air conditioner We are EXTREMELY SATISFIED!!!!!!
Chip H.
Chip H.
1721099565
Couldn't be more pleased with the experience. You will not be disappointed. Great communication, on time, very nice and professional group to deal with. And to top it off, Josh was extremely knowledgeable and helpful in answering all of my questions. A++++
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By clicking “Send Message”, I am providing express written consent to receive autodialed and pre-recorded calls, texts, and SMS/MMS with marketing communications from Dragonfly Heating and Cooling regarding home services at the phone number provided above, even if the number is on a corporate, state, or national Do Not Call list. Consent is not a condition to purchase services or products.

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