|
Possible solutions:
It is important to ensure proper identification of the problem before action is taken. If the odor is present during heating the problem is probably not a dirty sock syndrome complaint. Dirty sock complaints only occur when the HVAC system is cool and the bacteria releases its odor into the air stream.
The first step in correcting dirty sock syndrome is to eliminate standing water in drain pans, dry traps in drain lines connected to plumbing systems and return air leaks in ductwork.
Second, if you are using a heat pump, clean the entire coil. This means deep inside the coil as well as its surface. Use a high sudsing detergent that's safe for evaporators. The sudsing action gets deep in the coil, and helps bring the dirt and bacteria to surface.
Next, check the balance of outside air drawn into your system. People produce CO2 through normal respiration and though it is not toxic, its' accumulation to excessive levels indoors can indicate that an inadequate amount of outdoor air is being added to the HVAC airflow. Incorporating the right percentage of outside air requires a delicate balancing act. Too little, and CO2 adds up, but add too much outside air, especially hot, humid air, and you may get a condensation leading to dirty sock syndrome. One way to test for this is to compare the percent CO2 in delivered air compared to the CO2 concentration in return and outside air.
Lastly, some professionals try to control this issue by sanitizing the ducts by fogging a chlorine dioxide fungicide and deodorant into the air handler and through the supply ducts.
Tell Me More:
Maintaining the balance between indoor and outside air is very difficult in an office or industrial facility. The challenge is that the HVAC system isn't the only way outside air is being added to the mix. There are outside doors and windows which are constantly being opened and closed. If you have an overhead door open in a loading dock and open a hall door too you can bring in 10,000 cubic feet of outdoor air. Obviously you can't control this and have to work with the situation as it is part of doing business. Big inflows of humid air are drawn into HVAC ducts, where moisture can condense, providing a medium for bacterial growth that produces the dirty sock smell.
|
