Unpleasant odors can cause unlivable conditions no matter where they originate. However, if you can trace the odor to a specific source, you can remedy the problem yourself or call a professional to handle the job. If your air conditioning vents smell bad, you can take these steps to squash the smell and again live peacefully in your Charles Town, West Virginia, home.
Remove the Vent Covers
Vent covers need to be cleaned just like every other part of the home. Dust and dirt particles can build up on both the inside and outside of the vents, and if any moisture has formed on the vents, you might have a mold problem. Cleaning your vents regularly can help prevent unpleasant odors from developing.
To clean your vents, wash them with hot, soapy water and a sponge or cloth. Dry them thoroughly before you reattach them to your wall or floor. You can also use a disinfecting spray or wipe to help guard against mold and pathogen growth on the vents.
Examine Your Indoor and Outdoor HVAC Units
Sometimes, unpleasant odors can emanate from your home’s vents even though they don’t originate there. Since air passes through your HVAC system and out of your vents, the odor could come from the source. Examine the indoor and outdoor HVAC units to determine if you sense the same odor. It could come from the AC’s evaporator coils, for instance, which could indicate mold growth.
If you think the smell comes from your HVAC system, don’t try to remediate the problem yourself. Opening up your units and attempting to clean them will likely damage their delicate parts, which will lead to much higher repair bills. Instead, let our technicians diagnose and fix the problem so you don’t have to live with the odor any longer.
Consider Your Ductwork
Just as unpleasant odors near your vents can come from your HVAC units, they can also come from inside your home’s ductwork. Dust and debris build up inside the ducts and can emit musty or other unpleasant smells. You’ll need a professional to examine your ductwork and detect the problem since you don’t own the equipment necessary to examine the ducts yourself.
Check for Pests
Speaking of pests, rodents and insects sometimes inhabit ductwork and the space between walls in your home. When they die, they can release an extremely unpleasant odor that might emanate from your vents. It will probably smell like decomposition and get worse over the course of several days or weeks.
You’ll need to remove the dead animal from its final resting place to eliminate the odor. Additionally, if the dead animal has attracted insects, you’ll need remediation for that, as well.
Look for Moisture
Plumbing leaks can sometimes happen near air vents. Even though you think the problem stems from the vent itself, you’re actually smelling mold and mustiness from the plumbing leak. It’s almost impossible for a layman to detect and fix a leaking pipe, so you’ll need a professional. He or she can repair the issue and get rid of any mold that has grown in the area.
Check All Vents
One way to narrow down the problem is to check all the vents in your home for unpleasant odors. Maybe you’ve noticed that the vent in your bedroom smells, but what about those in the living room, kitchen, or dining room? If the smell comes from multiple vents, you’re probably facing an HVAC issue of some kind, and it probably isn’t coming from the vents themselves.
No matter the source, we can help you pinpoint the cause so you don’t have to breathe noxious air during every minute you spend in your home. Foul odors can not only cause discomfort, but they can also trigger allergy and asthma symptoms. To schedule a maintenance visit, call Griffith Energy Services at 888-474-3391.
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