Air con cleaning for almost all makes
Car air con cleaning in Rotterdam
Does your car’s air con smell musty when you switch it on? We clean the evaporator and the air ducts and fit a new cabin filter. That way we tackle the cause of the smell.
Rotterdam family business since 1979 | 4.8 / 5 from 235 reviews | New cabin filter included | Price in advance
The short answer
A musty smell from the air con usually comes from bacteria and mould on the evaporator. That is the cold part behind the dashboard where condensation forms. An old cabin filter makes the smell worse.
Air con cleaning means cleaning the evaporator and the air ducts and fitting a new cabin filter. Autobedrijf Willemsbrug in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde does this with a cleaning agent that we spray through the whole system via the ventilation. As standard we replace the cabin filter and check the condensate drain. We do this for almost all makes.
You hear the price in advance and we only do extra work after you approve it. Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number. Then we know which filter your car has.
Jump to: signs · which smell, which cause · how we work · costs · keeping the air con fresh · frequently asked questions · directions
These signs show your air con needs cleaning
You mainly notice dirty air con by the smell. These are the signs we hear about most often.
Do you recognise one or more of these signs? Call +31 10 479 00 00 with your registration number. Is the air con also cooling less well? Mention it. Then we can take it into account when we book the appointment.
Why does the air con smell musty?
When the air con cools, condensation forms on the evaporator. That is normal. The water drains away under the car through the condensate drain. The evaporator then stays damp for a while. Bacteria and mould grow in that moisture. As soon as you switch on the fan, it blows the smell into the car.
The cabin filter stops dust and pollen. An old filter is full of dirt and becomes damp itself. Then it starts to smell too and less air comes through the vents. An air freshener hides the smell, but it does not remove the cause.
Which smell, which cause?
Not every smell from the vents goes away with a clean. This table shows what is usually going on.
| What you smell | Likely cause | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Musty, like a damp cloth | Bacteria and mould on the evaporator, often with an old cabin filter. | Cleaning the air con and replacing the cabin filter. |
| Sour, like vinegar | Usually bacteria on the evaporator as well. | Cleaning the air con and replacing the cabin filter. |
| Musty, with a wet floor mat on the passenger side | The condensate drain is blocked. The water stays in the heater box or runs into the car. | Clearing the condensate drain and then cleaning. |
| Sweet | Probably coolant from the heater matrix. | Having the cooling system checked. Cleaning does not help here. |
| Exhaust fumes or fuel | The cause is usually not the air con. | Drive no further than you need to and have the car checked straight away. |
| Burning smell | Possibly the blower motor or the wiring. | Switch off the fan and have the car checked. |
You can read more background in our article on why your car’s air con smells (in Dutch). A dirty evaporator does not need replacing. That is usually only needed when it leaks. Read more about the air con evaporator.
How we clean your car’s air con
We start with the cause, not with a nice scent. We do this in five steps. We work by appointment. If your car stays with us for longer, you bring it Monday to Friday between 8.00 and 8.30 am or on Saturday at 9.00 am. For a quick question or check you can walk in without an appointment.
How much does air con cleaning cost?
You hear the price in advance when you call with your registration number. With a clean we replace the cabin filter as standard. The price you hear in advance is for the clean with the new filter. The price depends on these points:
- The cabin filter. The price varies from car to car. A filter with activated carbon costs more than a standard filter.
- Access. On some cars the filter sits behind a small cover, on others part of the dashboard or the wiper cowl has to come off first.
- How dirty it is. If the condensate drain is blocked, clearing it is added.
For comparison: on the market, air con cleaning usually costs € 50 to € 120. According to the ANWB, a new cabin filter at a garage often costs € 40 to € 125. These are averages and not a quote from us. Read more in our article on what an air con repair costs (in Dutch).
Cleaning is not the same as regassing. A clean is meant to deal with the musty smell. The refrigerant stays in the system. If the air con is cooling less well, you need an air con regas. A regas costs from € 120 (R134a) or from € 180 (R1234yf). You can have both done in one appointment.
How to keep the air con fresh for longer
An evaporator that can dry after the drive is slower to start smelling. These four habits keep the air con fresh for longer.
You can read what is needed and when in our car air con maintenance schedule (in Dutch). Do the windows keep misting up? Then read our article on misted windows and the air con (in Dutch).
Frequently asked questions about air con cleaning
No need to click. All the answers are already open below.
Air con cleaning in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde
You will find us at Boterdiep 11 (3077 AW) in Rotterdam-IJsselmonde, close to Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip) and exit 24 Rotterdam-Feijenoord on the A16. The A15 is five minutes’ drive away. There is free parking outside if there is space. The tram stop Stadion Feijenoord (line 3) is close by.
We are also easy to reach from Barendrecht, Ridderkerk, Capelle aan den IJssel, Krimpen aan den IJssel, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht and Zwijndrecht. Leaving your car with us? You can use a free loan bike while one is available.
Plan your route to Boterdiep 11 or see our contact page.
Opening hours
Monday to Friday: 8.00 to 17.30
Saturday: 9.00 to 15.00
Sunday: closed
We are closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
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