We often hear complaints from homeowners that there is a bad odor coming out of their A/C system or vents. It is extremely uncomfortable to endure a constant bad smell in your home, especially as we head into the summer months. Air duct cleaning is one method that can eliminate bad odors coming from the vents, but it also depends on where and what the source of the smell is.
The first step is to find out what and where the bad odor is coming from.
The first step to eliminating a bad odor coming from the vents of your home is to identify what is causing the smell. There are a variety of sources that we commonly see while duct cleaning. These include mold growth, which can lead to a mildew smell, as well as the build-up of old rotten food and debris. Sometimes rat droppings and nests can lead to a bad smell and indicate signs of a larger issue, like a rat infestation.
Perhaps the worst source of bad odor, though, is a dead animal stuck in the duct system. It is not uncommon for us to find a dead rat, mouse, or other small animal in the duct system. The longer the animal has been there, the worse the smell. This bad smell can get especially putrid in the summer months.
It’s important to note that sometimes the source of a bad odor coming through your home’s vents is not within the duct system at all. Oftentimes a dead animal or mold growth will be in the crawlspace or another area outside of the ducts. Air duct system are not always 100% sealed, and so the bad odor can seep through the pipes and into the home.
The good news is that a thorough duct cleaning will eliminate one significant potential source of the bad smell as well as provide other benefits to your home, including clean air, reduced energy bills, and less dust accumulation.
If the bad smell is coming from the ducts, a professional air duct cleaning will eliminate the source and sanitize the entire system.
PureClean Carpet and Air Duct Cleaning specializes in inspecting, cleaning, and sanitizing
air duct systems. Part of our process is inspecting the ducts to ensure that there is no major damage or repairs needed prior to cleaning. We then begin the cleaning process, which includes removal of mold, debris, allergens, and other items that can cause bad smells.
After everything is removed from the duct system, we spray an EPA-approved sanitizer on the duct walls to disinfect and prevent future buildup. Not only will our duct cleaning process eliminate the bad odor, but it will also ensure that your household is breathing clean, healthy air moving forward.
Tips to Prevent Bad Odors in the Future
There are a few tips that can help prevent bad odors in the duct system in the future.
1. After the duct cleaning, open your doors and windows to allow the air circulate and to
dissipate the bad odor.
2. Consider investing in an air filter to assist in air circulation and filtration within your home.
3. If mold was the cause of the bad odor in your vent system, invest in a dehumidifier.
4. Make sure that there are not any openings in your home or crawlspace in which rats and mice could get into. This is especially important in the winter and spring when they are nesting.
