How To Remove Odor From Air Ducts

If you’re looking for information on how to remove odor from air ducts, then this guide will be of help to you. Air ducts in a ventilation system are designed to transport air so that you feel more comfortable in your home. However, sometimes, you will notice not-so-desirable smells coming from your air duct system. Ducts of this kind are often used with a forced air furnace or a central heating and cooling system. Therefore, they should be inspected and cleaned on a regular basis.

If you have your air ducts cleaned regularly, you can also offset problems with asthma or other allergic reactions. Air ducts can collect dust, which causes an allergic response or triggers respiratory ailments. By taking proactive action, you can keep your air ducts clean and free of allergens and residue.

Does Your Central Heating and Cooling System Emit Unpleasant Smells?

While a central heating and cooling system is considered a wonderful way to stay cool or warm, it can also be rather disconcerting if you notice unpleasant smells. Maybe you are noticing a musty odor coming through the vents. If so, you will need to have a professional come in and vacuum and clean the vents or you can do some cleaning in the interim yourself.

Before you start cleaning the ducts however, you need to find out what is causing the nasty smells that are coming from the system of ducts. One of the most common reasons for unpleasant odors is mold. Usually, the mold develops in the air conditioning unit. The mold can grow in the collection pan, which collects the water, as well as on the condenser coil. Because these areas grab the water from the air, it stands to reason that mold will collect in either of these two places. This can affect the types of smells that are circulating through the vents and ducts.

Sometimes, smells will be captured in the ductwork that runs through the crawl space beneath a house. When this happens, you will catch certain distressing odors. In addition, crawl spaces that become flooded after a rain are a breeding ground for mold and mildew. In turn, you are regaled with a musty smell in your home.

Unfortunately, you can also smell the carcasses of dead animals at times. This type of odor is not exactly musty and falls more in line with downright disgusting. If this smell happens to surface whenever you run your air conditioning or heating, you need to find out where it is coming from.

You May Have a Dead Animal in Your Ductwork

Frequently, a dead rodent, such as a mouse or squirrel, has gotten into the ductwork. If it happens to die there, you will smell its leftover remains. The only thing that you can do, in this instance, is to contact a ductwork cleaning company and have the animal removed and the ductwork cleaned.

Therefore, before you get up and start cleaning the vents and ductwork, you need to consider the source of the smell. As noted, the smell is often musty in nature, which often indicates the formation of mold or mildew. Mildew can easily be cleaned with bleach and soap. However, mold presents another problem altogether. If you have a problem, such as black mold, this growth can be a health hazard. In this case, you would need to contact a mold abatement company to get rid of the problem – a problem that can be costly at times.

Thoroughly Clean Your Ductwork

You would also have to have a duct cleaning service thoroughly clean your ductwork. When you have a problem with mold, professional services need to be used to get rid of a smell issue once and for all. You simply cannot rely on your own skills in these instances. You need to contact specialists in the duct cleaning and mold removal fields.

It is really not wise to do it yourself in these cases, as you do not have the products and equipment to adequately take care of the problem. Once you have the issues addressed, you can take preventative steps to reduce a smell problem. Until that time, however, you need to contact professionals about your concerns along these lines.

For example, if you have a problem with mold that is also causing smells to circulate through the ducts, you need to have mold removal professionals to first get rid of the growth. They have the fungicides needed to get rid of mold and know what to do to reduce the moisture level in your living environment. They can also recommend techniques that will keep you from having a future problem with mold.

Once you have the mold removed, contact a duct cleaning service to make sure your ducts are cleaned and hygienic. Again, they possess the type of equipment and products that will thoroughly clean the ducts so they do not send distressing smells throughout a home or living space. Once you contact a professional service, you will literally breathe easier and have more peace of mind.

Nasty Odors Are Major Clues

When nasty odors present themselves, they are big clues that you need to do something about a more important issue, such as mold or mildew. Therefore, you cannot take a bad smell lightly. Once you discover the smell, find out its origin. Once you find the source, it will be easier to proceed with an abatement or cleaning task.

After the ducts have been cleaned, you can regularly check certain areas that may spawn mold or mildew. For example, you should regularly check and clean your air conditioning unit, especially the condenser coil and collection pan. To clean the condenser coil and pan, you can use a solution of 10% bleach and water. This formulation will kill off any mold growth without affecting the coil and system.

Most central air conditioners feature an access panel on the back of the device. Simply remove the panel to clean the condenser coil. You can also use a vacuum with a brush attachment to suck up debris or dust from the coil and fins on the air conditioner. This type of measure will prevent any future odor problems.

If the discovered odor was not originating from the air conditioner, you can also check the vent filters in your duct system. To eliminate any further odors, you may add duct filter pads. To make this adjustment, unscrew the duct vent and add a filter pad into the grate. The filter will capture any offending smelly particles.

In the interim, or while waiting for a professional to clean out your ducts, make sure you have some baking soda on hand to absorb the smell. Make sure you place the baking soda in the area where the smell is the most noticeable. This will make it possible for you to at least endure the smell until professional help arrives.

Bottom Line

Removing a smell from an air duct is not an easy process if you do not know where the odor originates. If you cannot determine from where the smell is coming, call an air duct cleaning company and have your ductwork inspected. They can assist you in finding the exact cause of your odor problem and take measures to get it resolved.

Even if you cannot determine the exact cause of the smell, it is helpful to have the ducts vacuumed and cleaned. Make sure your furnace filter is switched out and that your air conditioner device is clean. By taking these steps, you have done all that you can to ensure a clean house and clean-smelling air. In most instances, moisture is the culprit when you breathe bad smells in the air. Added moistures can cause mold which can cause your air to smell musty and unpleasant.

If you have not done so already, buy a hygrometer to make sure that the moisture level in your house is comfortable. The moisture level during the summer months should be around 40% and about 30% in the winter. If it is 50% or above, you need to contact a heating and cooling specialist about dehumidification. Just make sure you have looked at every possibility for an odor problem. That way, you can take a more proactive stance and get on top of any duct smell problems.

What do you want to accomplish by contacting a duct cleaning company? Whether you want to remove dust or get rid of a smell problem, you need to communicate your priorities. In either case, you will make your house more of a home if you make sure you do not have dust circulating in the air, as well as unpleasant smells.

Do you have an odor problem in your ductwork? If so, now is the time to address the issue, not later. The longer you wait, the more frustrated you will feel about the problem overall. Take time now to review the issue and take the needed measures to resolve it permanently. You can find professional duct cleaning services online in your local community. Call a business today for an inspection of your ductwork and a free consultation. Doing so will give you a new outlook, one that will make you breathe easier and enjoy the air you breathe.