What is the most dreaded guest review that hotel managers encounter? Not "The breakfast is not tasty", nor "The front desk staff is slow", but rather - "There's a musty smell as soon as you enter the room" or "It seems someone has smoked in the room". 

Such reviews have a devastating impact on the conversion rate. They make subsequent potential guests think that the hotel has "poor hygiene" and "outdated facilities". 

Many general managers are very aggrieved: "Our Housekeeping cleans the room thoroughly every day and also sprays air freshener, why is there still a smell?" 

Today, Edda Air will help you uncover the true nature of this "invisible killer". This is not just a cleaning issue, but a stubborn problem caused by the building structure and physical characteristics.

A. Where did that lingering "bad smell" come from?

The Origin of the "Musty Smell"
Many hotels (especially those in humid areas or established ones) have this problem: the rooms may seem very dry and clean, but there is always an old, earthy smell similar to that of a basement.
In fact, the source of the odor is not in the room, but right above your head - in the central air conditioning (HVAC) ducts.

1. A breeding ground for condensation water: The hotel's air conditioning operates continuously in a cooling mode, resulting in condensation water inside the ducts. Moreover, the pipes remain in darkness all year round, accumulating dust. This place has become a luxurious breeding ground for mold.

2. The pollution blown out:  When you turn on the air conditioner, the fan is actually blowing the billions of mold spores that have accumulated in the pipes directly into the guest room.

3. The "adsorption" of the carpet: These spores eventually land on the carpet, curtains and wall coverings. As long as the air is slightly humid, they will reproduce again deep within the fibers.

Conclusion:If the colonies in the air conditioning pipes are not dealt with, no matter how hard the cleaning lady scrubs the carpet or sprays perfume, it's all just putting on a show to deceive oneself. As long as the source is not eliminated, the musty smell will not go away.

B. Why is it so difficult to remove the "smoky odor"? Even in non-smoking rooms?

The Nightmare of "Third-Hand Smoke"
As soon as a guest is caught smoking inside the room, the price of this room may not rise for the next week. 
Why is opening the windows for ventilation not helpful? Because the smell of smoke is not just "gas". 
When tobacco burns, it produces a sticky substance like tar (which is what we commonly call "third-hand smoke"). These tiny sticky particles will firmly "stick" to wallpaper, headboard padding, carpets, and even the ceiling.

1. Limitations of traditional methods: Ordinary air purifiers can only filter the smoke floating in the air, but they cannot remove the tar that is adhered to the walls.
2. The consequence of time: These residues will gradually oxidize, emitting an old and unpleasant sour smell.

C. Why do traditional solutions always "treat the symptoms but not the root cause"?

In response to complaints, many hotels have adopted the following "emergency measures", but the results are often not satisfactory:

1. Air freshener/Scented machine: 
*Truth: It's like spraying perfume on a trash can. The musty smell mixed with the fragrance will actually create a more disgusting odor. 

2. Ozone machine (Ozone): 
*Defect: This is a "double-edged sword". Although it can remove odors, ozone can corrode the expensive rubber facilities, wires, and decorative paintings in the hotel. Moreover, ozone is harmful to the human body. After treating the room, it must be left vacant for several hours to disperse the odor, which directly reduces the room occupancy rate (RevPAR).

D. The concept of Edda Air: Let the air "take a bath" by itself

Since the odor is hidden in the ducts and adheres to the walls, we cannot just deal with the "air". We need a cleaning agent that can actively attack the problem.

Edda Air employs plasma air purification technology. In essence, we have mimicked the natural process where the air becomes fresher after a thunderstorm. 
Instead of relying on filters to intercept particles, we create an energetic "active gas". These gases flow along with the air conditioning air:

1. In the duct: Kill mold inside the duct and cut off the source. 

2. Everywhere: Reach deep into curtains and carpets to decompose the smoke and tar that are adhered there. 

It is like countless invisible cleaners, constantly "scrubbing" the air and object surfaces for you 24 hours a day.

Three sets of solutions for different scenarios:
We know that hotel operations are highly demanding in terms of efficiency and cost. Therefore, we do not recommend a one-size-fits-all approach; instead, we suggest a scenario-based management approach:

A. Eradicate Musty Odor: Invisible Guardian (PS-500 or PS-501S)
Installation location: Hidden in the air conditioning return vent of the ceiling.
For whom: Guest rooms with complaints of "old smell" or "musty odor".
Benefits: Guests cannot see it or hear it. It utilizes the force of the air conditioning to actively eliminate mold in the ducts around the clock. Once installed, it provides long-term peace of mind and completely eliminates the "poor review of musty odor".

B. Smoke Room Rescue: Emergency Expert (PS-501T4F)
Where to place: Put it on the cleaning cart of the room attendant (portable).
For whom to use: Rooms that have just been vacated, or rooms with severe smoke or odor.
Benefits: No need to close the room for the entire day. Turn it on for 15-30 minutes during cleaning to quickly break down the smoke odor. After cleaning is completed, the room can be directly sold to the next guest.

C. Silence Guardian: Pyramid (PS-400TP)
Installation locations: Front reception area, executive lounge, SPA center.
For whom: Areas with high foot traffic and where various odors are likely to occur.
Benefits: Elegant design, silent operation. It gives guests a sense of "taking a deep breath" when they first enter the store.

Conclusion

Air is invisible and intangible, but guests can remember it. 

In the highly competitive hotel industry, "no smell" is the highest level of decoration. Treat air purification as a long-term asset investment for your hotel instead of a one-time expense. What you will gain is higher ratings, fewer complaints, and more loyal customers. 

Want to know which solution is suitable for your hotel? Contact the Edda Air team. We offer free HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) renovation consulting services.