Dirty Sock Syndrome…it sounds like something I should be familiar with as the father of four boys, however it isn’t anything found in a hamper. As heat pumps become more and more efficient, evaporator coils become larger. More surface area means less washdown during the defrost cycle and that leads to higher risk of bacterial growth in areas of the country, such as here in Pennsylvania. This was less common in the past but now the industry is receiving complaints and homeowners are demanding a fix.
Bacterial growth is not the only cause of odors but once the cause is pinpointed as Dirty Sock Syndrome the obvious first line of attack is to treat the coil with a biocide such as Nu-Calgon’s Bio-Fresh. While this is a great starting point it will not keep the smell away for the long term.
For the best solution I want to share excerpts of this article with you,
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“During the energy crisis of the early 1970s, heat pump systems became popular for many commercial and residential hvac applications because of their lower first cost and potentially energy-saving performance.
Manufacturers, wholesalers, contractors, and even electrical utilities rigorously promoted the concept, and a new market was launched.
Shortly thereafter, however, came the complaints, particularly in the Southeast, of an odor originating from the much-endorsed units. This foul smell sent manufacturers, wholesalers, and service entities scrambling. The odor was characterized in many ways, but the most vivid description was “like someone’s gym socks found their way into my a/c unit.”
The term “Dirty Sock Syndrome” was born, to the chagrin of the industry, and soon became the unofficial name for this heat pump phenomenon.
The only known remedies at the time were to clean or replace the coil, use drain pan treatments, or in extreme cases, replace the entire unit — and even that didn’t always solve the problem. Generally speaking, however, frequent cleanings with bleach did temporarily reduce the odor to acceptable levels.
In the late 1980s and early 90s, indoor air quality became a nationally recognized issue; thus, the reports of the Dirty Sock Syndrome accelerated.
Newer and more energy-efficient units seemed predisposed to the problem. It also began occurring during the heating season as well as the cooling season, but especially during “shoulder” seasons like fall and spring, when the units would be used for heating at night and cooling during the day.
The condition became so widely recognized that it was no longer limited to just heat pumps or the Southeast.
Generally, the early cleaners like chlorine have been banned for use in a/c systems. As a result, service contractors are using EPA-registered biocidal agents on coils, drain pans, air filters, and insulation to suppress the problem.
Like the earlier remedies, though, these agents do not provide a permanent solution. The problems eventually return in just a few months or less.
What causes the odor?
In order to find a permanent solution to the Dirty Sock Syndrome, it was first necessary to understand how the odor was generated. Curiously, the cause of the problem all along was the simple growth of mold and bacteria on the coil, as indicated by the effect of early cleaners.
Heat pumps were particularly susceptible because, unlike conventional heat exchangers, their heating cycles were not hot enough to kill the microbes that thrived on their wet coils during the cooling season. Instead, the temperature was just warm enough to slowly “cook off” their organic odors, producing that gym sock odor.
Adding to the problem were the water and organic debris in the drain pan, which formed a fertile garden of microorganisms. The slow warming of this contaminated water released a plethora of spores and toxins into the air that served the conditioned space.
Why the problem appeared during the heating season was linked to the “reverse mode” operation for defrosting the outdoor coil. This process generated moisture on the indoor coil, giving dormant microorganisms and residual organic matter new life, and providing a simple but effective odor release and carrier mechanism.
In today’s high-efficiency units, the old problem is exacerbated. Larger coils and more closely spaced fins create an expanded surface area to retain even more organic material.
In addition, they retain more moisture, stay wet longer, and their drain pans hold more water and organic debris. All of these factors contribute to a longer and more productive cycle of microbial activity.
This greater activity equates to more spores, toxins, and odors for a longer period of time.
Mold: A survivor
Why is mold so difficult to control?
Mold is at the bottom of the food chain. It thrives on very little, grows rapidly, and produces spores, volatile organic compounds, and other toxins. One organism can multiply to trillions in less than three weeks.
And mold occurs everywhere — in hvac systems in homes, schools, workplaces, entertainment centers, vehicles, etc. They all are mold reservoirs.
As noted above, a/c equipment interiors provide an ideal environment for mold growth — it’s dark, damp, and filled with nutrients. The result can be like blowing air over a swamp or through a sewer and then into our homes, vehicles, and workplaces.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 60% of IAQ problems and allergies may be mold-related. Some IAQ diagnosticians and practitioners today say the figure may be as high as 80%. The increased usage of air conditioning systems (installed base) almost directly parallels the increase of allergies and IAQ problems.
As mold and bacteria grow on coils and in drain pans, they are disseminated through the ducts to occupied spaces. Some mold products (toxins) produce serious and sometimes life-threatening reactions, including allergy, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and even bleeding lung disease.
Additionally, mold creates a troublesome maintenance problem. Its activity results in dirty coils, an increase in pressure drop, loss of heat exchange efficiency, dirty and sometimes plugged drain pans, and excessive energy use.”
Using UVC
“Ultraviolet light in the “C” band (UVC) has been used for more than 65 years to kill microorganisms in hospitals, laboratories, food processing, and pharmaceutical plants, and even at the nation’s Center for Disease Control.”
“The UVC energy attacks the organism’s DNA and either kills it immediately or prevents it from reproducing. Continuing exposure degrades the carcasses and any other organic material through vaporization (without heat), cleaning the coil to “as-new” specifications.
Emitter tubes typically last more than 7,500 hrs (“on” time), or slightly over one year. The lights pose no danger to equipment, individuals, or furnishings, and there is no risk of secondary contaminants such as particles, ozone, or chemicals being released into the system or space.”
All this and IAQ
“UVC technology also does what it was originally designed to do: enhance IAQ and reduce the incidence of allergy and illness.”
“An average installation of UVC Emitters will kill up to 90% of the “fly-by” bacteria and viruses passing through the system. This reduces the recirculation of colds and flu virus or any other airborne disease through the hvac system. If used to control infectious diseases such as TB, the UVC system can be designed to eliminate more than 99% of the bacteria for the greatest level of protection possible.
Given their multiple benefits, UVC devices are one of the most innovative maintenance and control items to hit the hvac market in years.
A properly designed and installed UVC system will provide your customer with healthier, more energy-efficient and productive environments, while removing those dirty socks from their air conditioners.”
-excerpted from an article on www.achrnews.com, September 19, 2000.
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Well, that sounds like an easy enough solution for a frustrating problem. Installation of these units can be as simple as drilling a hole to mount the unit where it bathes both sides of the A-coil in light and plugging it in.
One note from Nordyne I should mention. Nordyne recommends that the technician protect older evaporator coil drain pans from UV Light exposure by applying reflective tape to all surfaces that will be exposed to the light. The C6 and newer pans that are black in color are naturally UV protected and will actually become more resistant with exposure.
APR Supply Co stocks a full line of Field Controls UV-Aire lights to take care of your IAQ needs. For more information, or to order, contact your local APR Branch.