Dirty socks smell on new trane system

[snacktray]

Hi all, like a majority of people here I have been lurking and doing a lot of reading past threads on this issue.

I just recently had a 3 ton XL20i heat pump w/matching air handler installed. Yesterday AM when the ac came on first thing in the morning I notice the dreaded dirty socks smell. At first I thought it was my dog, but she was in another room sleeping. After a few hours the smell went away.

The system had been running perfectly up until yesterday and was installed about 1 month ago. One thing I had done different was leave the fan on circ overnight. The next morning is when the smell showed up. I don't know if its coincidence or what ever.

So just for kicks, I set the fan back to auto last night and waited till this morning to see if I would get the smell. And to my surprise it was not there. Another coincidence maybe?

Anyone experiment with the fan cycles in relation to the DSS?

Just wondering....

[BobbyBJr]

May have just been a coincidence because running the fan usually helps more than it hurts by drying out the coil where the microbes live that create the smell. Many times it helps to lengthen the fan run cycle after the cooling call satisfies. In my area we get most of our dirty sock complaints in the spring and fall when we are switching back and forth between heating and cooling. If your problem continues look at adding a properly placed UV light to the system.

[beachtech]

Hi all, like a majority of people here I have been lurking and doing a lot of reading past threads on this issue.

I just recently had a 3 ton XL20i heat pump w/matching air handler installed. Yesterday AM when the ac came on first thing in the morning I notice the dreaded dirty socks smell. At first I thought it was my dog, but she was in another room sleeping. After a few hours the smell went away.

The system had been running perfectly up until yesterday and was installed about 1 month ago. One thing I had done different was leave the fan on circ overnight. The next morning is when the smell showed up. I don't know if its coincidence or what ever.

So just for kicks, I set the fan back to auto last night and waited till this morning to see if I would get the smell. And to my surprise it was not there. Another coincidence maybe?

Anyone experiment with the fan cycles in relation to the DSS?

Just wondering....

it may also be insulation slmell from the new install.

it could also be from running the fan in on position as that is a bad idea during air conditioning months. yes the coil will dry out, but where is all that moisture going? right back into your home. so your dehumidifying air conditioner has just turned into a humidifier... not too good.

if you feel it is DSS then contact your dealer, there is a treatment that will take care of the problem :)

[coors66]

it may also be insulation slmell from the new install.

it could also be from running the fan in on position as that is a bad idea during air conditioning months. yes the coil will dry out, but where is all that moisture going? right back into your home. so your dehumidifying air conditioner has just turned into a humidifier... not too good.


Sorry, but i disagree.
You will never achieve a 0% humidity rating in your home during the summer months. It's about achieving that happy medium. What's the level of humidity you are comfortable living in?

Running the fan in ON position during the summer months is a very good idea because:

1.) it keeps the outdoor unit from cycling on/off constantly throughout the
day.
2.) without constant air circulation, humidity levels inside will rise pretty
quickly, versus constant cirulation. Thus, demanding more of the outdoor
unit. More expensive electric bills$$
3.) Requires more energy to start a motor as opposed to run it.

[BobbyBJr]

it may also be insulation slmell from the new install.

it could also be from running the fan in on position as that is a bad idea during air conditioning months. yes the coil will dry out, but where is all that moisture going? right back into your home. so your dehumidifying air conditioner has just turned into a humidifier... not too good.

if you feel it is DSS then contact your dealer, there is a treatment that will take care of the problem :)

If the condensate drain is operating properly, most of the moisture will make its way outside and not be an issue.

[beachtech]

If the condensate drain is operating properly, most of the moisture will make its way outside and not be an issue.

wrong :) especailly in our area ;)

[beachtech]

Sorry, but i disagree.
You will never achieve a 0% humidity rating in your home during the summer months. It's about achieving that happy medium. What's the level of humidity you are comfortable living in?

Running the fan in ON position during the summer months is a very good idea because:

1.) it keeps the outdoor unit from cycling on/off constantly throughout the
day.
2.) without constant air circulation, humidity levels inside will rise pretty
quickly, versus constant cirulation. Thus, demanding more of the outdoor
unit. More expensive electric bills$$
3.) Requires more energy to start a motor as opposed to run it.

sorry? for what?

do your reseach, i did mine, and you'll find out who's wrong and who's right if that is what this is all about.

how about this, do as i did and put a HOBO in your home and test it for yourself :) ;)

[beachtech]

lets see what ASSumption number 4 says :)

http://www.focusonenergy.com/Residential/ehcpfans.aspx

[beachtech]

hhmmn running indoor fan continiously during summer months comes at expense of higher indoor RH.....

http://www.ecw.org/ecwresults/art4_humid.pdf

[beachtech]

really, it will raise indoor RH during summer?

http://johnsonsairconditioning.com/TSTATfanauto.html

:eek::eek::eek:

[snacktray]

hhmmn running indoor fan continiously during summer months comes at expense of higher indoor RH.....

http://www.ecw.org/ecwresults/art4_humid.pdf

I did notice the RH inside the house was higher than it was before I went to bed when this instance occurred. Its set to keep it at 45% and it hovers around 50-53%..mostly due to the rain we've had here lately in east TN. But when I checked it that morning it was at almost 60%...

[beachtech]

check out what they say about the indoor fan switch setting...

http://www.lennox.com/pdfs/manuals/Lennox%20HP21%20Manual.pdf

[snacktray]

the trane manual for the TCONT900 says the same thing basically..

[beachtech]

the trane manual for the TCONT900 says the same thing basically..

yes it does :) lol i was about to post that one up lol

why does it say such?

because its real!! continuous indoor fan in AC mode will increase indoor RH.

no matter how well your drain line is draining.

:)

lets leave the fan on "auto" :)

[snacktray]

ok, so you think leaving it on circ could have caused the smell? Its been a few days since and its been on "auto" and the smell hasn't come back...or was it just a coincidence?

[beachtech]

circ doesn't run the fan continuously, but can attribute to higher indoor RH as well as leaving fan "on"

you may very well have dirty sock, if the coil was getting completely dry while the fan was on circ, and then it was getting moisture again while the ac was on.

like he said earlier, we usually see dirty sock in the spring and fall months, because the coil dries out and when the ac is turned on or the syste goes through defrost (ac mode essentially) the smell is emmitted throughout the house from the supply registers.

the best measure is to make the contractor aware of the situation as soon as possible and see if they will do the treatment for you now. or wait till the fall and see if your notice it back again, will be most noticable during late evening and early morning hours when system goes through defrost more frequently :)

how long has system been installed?

and how did you hear about DSS?

most my customers have no idea what DSS is untill i tell them about it lol

[beachtech]

Sorry, but i disagree.
You will never achieve a 0% humidity rating in your home during the summer months. It's about achieving that happy medium. What's the level of humidity you are comfortable living in?


and no, you won't reach 0% RH in your home. but your indoor RH should be between 40 and 60% and 60% being in the danger zone.

between 40-50% is best.

my house stay around 44% RH and am very comfortable, and sometimes too cold at 77 deg F after working outside all day in 90 plus deg and 65 plus RH

[crmont]

it keeps the outdoor unit from cycling on/off constantly throughout the day.


:confused:

[beachtech]

:confused:

i let that one go lol