Air Conditioning Cleaning + Ozone

There is always that first moment. You start the car, the fan comes on, and then it hits you — a damp, faintly cellar-like smell that fades after half a minute. You have hung an air freshener on the mirror. The air freshener made the smell sweeter, not gone.

The reason is that the smell is not in the cabin. It is in the system that blows air into it.

What we actually do

The treatment is two jobs that belong together: one against the source, one against what has already spread.

Part 1 — the air conditioning ducts and evaporator. The air conditioning cools the air by passing it over an evaporator, and on that evaporator the moisture in the air condenses — exactly like on a cold glass in summer. The evaporator sits dark and enclosed behind the dashboard, it is wet for much of the year, and it is therefore one of the best places in the car for mould and bacteria to thrive. We introduce a disinfectant into the duct system and onto the evaporator, then run the ventilation on every setting — recirculation, fresh air, every vent — so the agent actually reaches the whole system and not just the first ten centimetres.

We also check the cabin filter. A filter saturated with leaves, pollen and moisture is a source of odour in its own right, and it is a cheap part to replace.

Part 2 — ozone treatment of the cabin. The car is closed up and ozone is introduced — also through the ventilation system, not just into the cabin space. Ozone works by oxidising odour molecules, that is, breaking them down, rather than laying a scent over them. That is why it reaches places no cloth can: the headliner, under the seats, in the seatbelt tensioners, in the boot well. Afterwards the car is fully aired out before you get it back.

Why it pays off

You breathe that air. A car is a small, enclosed space, and whatever is growing on an evaporator is blown straight into the faces of driver and passengers every time the fan runs. For people with pollen allergies or asthma this is noticeable, particularly in spring.

It is also a matter of value. Smell is one of the hardest things to explain away when selling a used car, because it is immediate and subjective — the buyer does not need to know what it is to react to it. If the car has been smoked in, or has carried a dog for years, this treatment is often what makes it saleable.

And finally, the practical point: a clogged, mouldy evaporator cools less effectively. The air conditioning has to work harder for the same result.

How often should you have it done?

Once a year, preferably in spring, before the cooling season begins. Otherwise whenever there is an odour problem, after moisture damage, or when you have taken over a used car and want a fresh start.

How long does it take?

Around 1.5 hours, including airing out. The car should stand still during the treatment, and we carry it out wherever the car is parked.

See available times and book air conditioning cleaning with ozone — it is often combined with an interior deep clean on the same day.