Does it seem like the air blowing into your home smells stale? Smelly air can be caused by quite a few things. Usually, the HVAC filtering system can help rid your system of odors. However, if your HVAC system is not properly maintained over the years, the filtering might not be as effective as it should be. Here is how to rid your HVAC system of most odors.

The Filter Is of the Utmost Importance

First of all, the most basic thing is to make sure that your filter is clean. If you don't replace your filter within the recommended time period, it is going to be problematic for your entire furnace and duct system. If smelly air is being sucked into your furnace without being properly filtered, the problem is just going to get more severe. That is, this bad air is going to be recirculated through your ducts and into your home. The odors can permeate throughout your air ducts, registers, and throughout the entire system. So, the first step is to make sure your filter is clean.

Is the Odor Coming from Your Ducts?

Next, you want to inspect your duct system. Actually giving your ducts a thorough cleaning might be too difficult if you don't have the right tools. However, you can visually inspect your air ducts to search for the cause of your odors.

By removing the air registers from the walls with a couple of screws, you can easily see inside the majority of your duct system with a flashlight. The most important things to look for are dark mold buildup on the duct walls or small animal carcasses. It sounds grim, but it is quite common for small rodents and birds to get stuck and die within a duct system. Even a small animal can cause severe odors, especially if the heat is running. Even if you don't find any animals or mold buildup within your duct system, it is important to have it regularly clean. The cleaning is a specialized project that should be professionally handled. It is affordable and quick, but it requires special tools, so it probably isn't something you want to try yourself.

If you change your air filter and have your duct system professionally clean, there is a good chance that it will solve your odor problems. In most cases, it is very easy to take care of odors in your HVAC. For more information, contact an HVAC service.

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