That Vexing Vapor Venting (Vapor Coming out of Vents)
September 29, 2024
You may have noticed sometimes on a hot and humid day, vapor will come out of your vehicle's vents when you have the air conditioning on. Is that something to be concerned about? Well, it depends.
Sometimes that steam or vapor can be caused by water accumulating in the vent system after it has condensed. And sometimes water can pool at the bottom of a vent. When you turn on the blower mower, the air hits the water and may create steam or vapor that you can see in the cabin.
One thing to check is if that vapor smells like anything. If it doesn't, that's a good sign. You may be able to run the fan for a while and the issue may just go away when things dry out. But moisture collecting in the ventilation hoses in a hot vehicle may be a breeding ground for mold, and that can have health consequences.
There's another possibility. Ventilation systems often have drains to get rid of any accumulated water, and debris can sometimes clog them. A technician can clean out those drains and you'll be back in business.
One thing to nose around for is a sweet smell coming out of your vents. Sometimes the heater core (a component of your vehicle's heater system) can develop very tiny holes. That sweet smell may be coolant that's been vaporized by those tiny holes entering your cabin.
It's always a good thing to mention to your service advisor any abnormality you're seeing—or smelling—in your vehicle. By venting a little about your vents, a technician can get to the bottom of the problem before it starts "clouding" the issue.
Top Tech Auto Repair Clawson
664 S Rochester Rd
Clawson, Michigan 48017
248-589-0980
http://www.toptechautorepairclawson.com
Need Service?
More articles from Top Tech Auto Repair Clawson
Going (Lug) Nuts (Lug Nut Replacement)
April 27, 2025
Here's a part of your vehicle you probably don't think about much: lug nuts. They're what fasten your wheels onto your axles. Pretty important, right? In order to take the wheels off your vehicle to service the brakes, rotate the tires, etc., the lug nuts have to be in good shape so a wrench wi... More
A Hot Mess (AC System-Compresser)
April 20, 2025
Air conditioning used to be a real luxury in a vehicle, but now it's standard in most. Your vehicle's air conditioning system is built to last a pretty long time, but like anything mechanical, sometimes it fails. It helps to know a little about how the A/C works. There's a compressor that press... More
Steering You Right (Power Steering Fluid Service)
April 13, 2025
Its important for safe driving that two of the most important systems in your vehicle work right. One is the brakes. The other is the steering. Nearly all vehicles on the road have some sort of power steering that allows you to direct a very heavy machine with little effort. There are two ty... More