WET DOG SMELL 🤢 !?!?!

[DMS11X]

2021 PB Lariat - Any yall also have a nasty wet dog smell from the HVAC for the first few minutes of running the AC ?

Any and all suggestions to mitigate this nastyness???

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[Kanuck]

Check cabin air filter.... if wet... could be weeping hole under the hood is plugged. Search the forum as there is a thread about it. The weeping hole is at the bottom of a cross peice , as it connects to the fender .

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/cabin-air-filter-soaking-wet.25300/

 

[Truckguy24]

The above is good advice and could be the culprit.

Also, many of these HVAC smell issues can also be caused by shutting the vehicle off with the AC running. Over 16 years ago when I got my '04, I had that smell. It's mildew. What I did was spray Lysol at the intake HVAC area under the hood. And that seemed to kill off any of the odor. Never had it come back and I still own that truck to this day.

Then every time since on every single vehicle, when I use the air conditioning about 1 to 2 mi from home (or my destination), I shut the AC off and keep the blower running. That keeps the system flowing and prevents that musty mildew gross smell that plagues most cars. It's a good habit to get into.

 

[Camodon]

The root cause of my culprit is well documented. Camper shell is on order...

 

[Warlock58]

2021 PB Lariat - Any yall also have a nasty wet dog smell from the HVAC for the first few minutes of running the AC ?

Any and all suggestions to mitigate this nastyness???

I have a 2021 Powerboost Lariat that had the exact same problem. I changed out the cabin filter and it went away.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Check the AC drain on the firewall and make sure it's clear. If it's clear and draining properly then you have mildew building up on the accumulator coil. This is normal especially if you leave it on recirculate most of the time.

Get a can of Lysol or another spray disinfectant for mold/mildew, remove the glove box and cabin filter. Kick the blower on max fan with the filter removed and spray in the open slot for a good 20-30 seconds then shut the system down and let it sit for about 20 min. Then reassemble it and open the windows, kick the blower on max speed fresh air to vent the system.

Repeat this every 3 or so months as needed.

You can also offset this by turning off the A/C but leave the fan running for up to 60 seconds to warm the accumulator coil and dry it out before shutting the truck off. When shutting the system down with the AC on the coil is still wet with condensation and in summer time this is the perfect breeding ground for mold/mildew to develop in there.

 

[DMS11X]

Check the AC drain on the firewall and make sure it's clear. If it's clear and draining properly then you have mildew building up on the accumulator coil. This is normal especially if you leave it on recirculate most of the time.

Get a can of Lysol or another spray disinfectant for mold/mildew, remove the glove box and cabin filter. Kick the blower on max fan with the filter removed and spray in the open slot for a good 20-30 seconds then shut the system down and let it sit for about 20 min. Then reassemble it and open the windows, kick the blower on max speed fresh air to vent the system.

Repeat this every 3 or so months as needed.

You can also offset this by turning off the A/C but leave the fan running for up to 60 seconds to warm the accumulator coil and dry it out before shutting the truck off. When shutting the system down with the AC on the coil is still wet with condensation and in summer time this is the perfect breeding ground for mold/mildew to develop in there.

Thanks!!! I did install a carbon filter a few months ago, I'll try the lysol trick tomorrow

 

[RamsRule45]

2021 PB Lariat - Any yall also have a nasty wet dog smell from the HVAC for the first few minutes of running the AC ?

Any and all suggestions to mitigate this nastyness???

I have a '22 Lariat Powerboost and I've had the same thing! Mine honestly smells more like manure than wet dog. I looked to see if i could find an air filter for it but i only checked the main air filter.

I'm going to check the cabin filter and the drain hole under the hood.

Please come back and let us know if you found success with any of the solutions suggested.

 

[JohnTrigger]

Any reference to checking the air filter above for the smell is talking about the cabin air filter under the glovebox.

There are two drain holes discussed above to check:

1. In post #2, Kanuch shows one that can fill with debris from outside and gunk up and thus cause outside water (rain or car wash) to back up and get your cabin air filter and passenger side carpet wet.

2. In post #6, Porpoise Hork is talking about the drain hole that sticks barely out of the firewall that drains water from your AC evaporator that you would normally see dripping onto the ground on your passenger side inside the wheel on a hot and humid day. If this water backs up it can get the cabin filter wet too. This video discusses putting a rubber elbow around the AC drain tube that sticks straight out so that it can’t flow back inside.

 

[FORD owner]

If you have a sunroof. It’s most likely the mesh air dam that sits in your “gutter” track leading to your drain holes. The fabric will smell like a wet dog, or wet rag that’s been sitting for too long damp. Easy to take out and clean. Or remove all-together if you do not operate vehicle with sunroof open.

 

[Jerome10]

Strangely enough mine starts to get smelly after the AC has been running awhile.

I don't live in a humid area but I do see at least some dripping under the truck when running so I don't think any drains are plugged.

Kinda accepted it.

If it makes any difference I use a standard cabin filter. I do not use the carbon enhanced ones. Not sure if that can help with smell or not. Maybe next cabin filter change I'll try a carbon one and see what happens.

 

[Parthery]

I found that the carbon enhanced ones tend to impede air flow.

If it were me, I would (a) replace the filter (b) check to ensure all the drains are clear then (c) get my hands on an ozone generator, put it in the truck with the windows up, truck running, and AC set to RECIRC and let it run for about 20 minutes. That should clear out any crud smell in the system.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

You want to be very careful when using ozone generators. It can cause adhesives to break down, corrode solder joints, contacts, and terminals, degrade protective coatings on HVAC components , weaken plastics, and bleach out fabrics especially if the concentration gets too high. In most cases running one for 10 minutes is more than sufficient even when treating carpeting for mildew after a water leak for example.

Using an AC cleaner/mildew preventative spray product or even Lysol (if you can tolerate the smell) a couple times a year is just as effective if not more so and won't damage sensitive components like ozone will. HVAC cleaner products are designed to kill the mold and mildew in the HVAC system as well as coat it preventing it from returning for months. Ozone will kill it true, but due to the perfect breeding environment in the accumulator housing will almost certainly return in as quickly as a couple of days.

Simply put the HVAC fan on max fresh air and spray down the cowl about middle of the windshield aimed to the passenger side for 45-60 seconds then shut it off and let it sit for 30 min. Then turn the fan back on and let it run for another 10 or so minutes to vent the truck out. I do this to mine every 6 months or so and never have any issues.

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