How to Remove Odors from Air Ducts
Have you ever just been sitting in your home, casually watching a movie, when you notice an odor so pungent that it’s impossible to ignore? Of course, there are many reasons why an odor might exist in your home so before freaking out, do a little inspection.
Once you’ve run out of options for what’s causing the smell, start considering the possibility that your air ducts are harboring an odor that’s ruining your home. Remain calm. We can get through this! We’re going to break down how to remove odors from air ducts right here! So let’s get into it so we can get your home smelling as good as new in no time.
What to Look Out For To Know If Your Ducts Need Cleaning
You need to look out for a few things to determine if it’s time for you to clean your air ducts. These reasonably common telltale signs will help you decide if a problem is genuinely present and if your air ducts are responsible.
#1 - Location
Suppose you find it challenging to narrow the smell to a room or particular area. In that case, the HVAC unit’s chances of being responsible for the odor are infinitely higher, because the system is circulating air throughout your whole home.
#2 - Process of Elimination
If there is a smell, but you’ve gone through your home cleaning everything in sight, from trash cans to carpets, but the odor hasn’t dissipated, then it’s time to inspect the HVAC.
#3 - Consistency
If you’re noticing that the smell isn’t isolated to just one or two rooms, then assume the HVAC - which has access to your entire home - is responsible.
#4 - Frequency
If you’re noticing that the smell is stronger when the HVAC unit fan is on, then you’ve got an apparent problem on your hands.
Kinds of Smells You Might Be Smelling
There are a variety of odors you might be experiencing in your home that ranges from unpleasant to downright disgusting. In order to answer the question ‘how to remove odors from air ducts,’ you need to know what the odor even is! Here are some you should keep in mind.
Moldy or musty odors
Rotten eggs
Sewage
Sulfur
Burning
Rotting garbage
This is by no means the extent of the smells you could experience, but they are the most common. So now it’s time to learn how to remove odors from air ducts.
How to Remove Odors from Air Ducts
It’s one thing to notice a problem with your air ducts, but removing odors from them is a whole other story. How to remove odors from air ducts depends on the smell you’re trying to get rid of. You’ve likely identified the smell already, so let’s break down ways to approach them individually.
#1 - Mold or Musty Odor
If you’re wondering how to remove odors from air ducts that smell like mold, inspect your condenser coils and drip pan. These two particular areas provide the best potential for mold growth. You can also detect mold on the ductwork itself. To fix these problems, you’ll need to focus on cleaning away the problem with soap and following up with a bleach/water blend to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself.
Want more help identifying mold? We got you covered! Check out our article 6 Signs of Mold in Your Utah Home. Additionally, if you want to learn more about why you might be experiencing a musty odor in your home, check out our article 5 Reasons Why Your Air Conditioner Smells Musty. To know how to remove odors from air ducts, you need to understand the odor you’re faced with.
#2 - Sewage Smell
If you’re experiencing the awful smell of sewage circulating in your home, you might have a backed-up sewer line or cracked pipe. This is worse the closer it is to the vent, so be sure to start at the vent and go from there. The solution to this is repairing potentially minor plumbing issues. If they’re more extensive than initially believed, don’t attempt it unless you’re confident in your abilities.
The solution for how to remove odors from air ducts that smell like sewage is to either repair the pipes or check for the blockage in the sewer line - in both cases, you’re probably going to want to call in a professional.
#3 - Rotten Eggs Smell
This is the smell that could save your life - don’t ignore it. Natural gas leaks are common in homes. The additive mercaptan is added to gas to ensure you can tell if this odorless gas is leaking. So, if you smell rotting eggs throughout your home, then you need to open the windows, get out of your home, and call your natural gas company ASAP.
#4 - Burning Smell
The first step of smelling something burning is to ensure nothing is, in fact, actually burning. Okay, nothing on fire? Great! Now that you’ve determined you’re not in immediate danger, you need to inspect your heater. If the smell is most potent by the heater, you’ve got a problem with your fan.
Since this is a mechanical problem, you need to replace and repair the issue, and the burning smell should dissipate. If you want to learn more about burning smells in air ducts, check out our other article Burning Smell from AC Unit (What It Is & How To Stop It!).
#5 - Sulfur Smell
If you’re smelling that freshly lit match smell, then you may have one of two issues:
Mechanical/Electrical failure inside the heating unit, such as a potential short in the unit’s circuit board.
Chinese drywall, which is far worse, refers to defective drywall originating from China. This problem only really occurs if your home was built during 2001 and 2009 and is not the case for every home built during this time. If your home’s drywall was installed during this time and came from China, consider the chances it’s defective drywall. However, it’s important to note this is not the case with all drywall originating from China. For more information on Chinese drywall, visit Insurance Information Institute who break it down, and answer frequently asked questions.
For mechanical/electrical issues repairing the unit will remove odors from air ducts that smell like sulfur. Unfortunately, if you’ve got an issue involving Chinese drywall, be prepared to replace the drywall entirely.
#6 - Rancid Smell
If you’re a little squeamish, get ready to call in for backup. A rancid smell can be anything from garbage to a decaying animal who’s died in the vents. This is actually pretty common because small pests end up chewing through ductwork and getting into the ducts.
Your best course of action is to remove the origins of the smell, have the vents cleaned, and then get an exterminator to come around and ensure this doesn’t happen again. Check out our article on Identifying Dead Mouse Smells and how to get rid of it!
Using Baking Soda For Odor Reduction
Looking for an immediate yet temporary answer to the question ‘How to remove odors from air ducts?’ Turn to the one thing that can help you out in life’s desperate times: baking soda. Place a bowl of baking soda directly in the vents and it will help the odors subside while you figure out your next move. This is not a cure or prevention; it’s more like slapping a band-aid on the problem.
Filter Pads
Another solution is installing hypoallergenic filter pads, which are readily available and easy to install. Simply unscrew vent covers, and place your vertical or horizontal filter pads into the grates. Put the cover back on, and voila, you’re now stopping the smell before it even escapes. In using this as an answer to ‘How to remove odors from air ducts,’ we would suggest treating this as a be-all and end-all. It’s still advised for you to seek out the odor’s origins.
Final Thoughts
Okay, so you made it through this crisis relatively unscathed. Your nose may be scared, but you are going to survive! Most of these issues can be DIY fixes, as detailed in our How To Clean Air Ducts Yourself Guide. However, if the problem is bigger than you can handle, don’t be a hero; call a professional. A wrong move can be far worse than a few dollars spent fixing what can become a serious problem.
We here at Crystal Clean Vents know how to approach the question of ‘How to remove odors from air ducts. So if you’re looking for professional help, who you gonna call? Crystal Clean Vents! Get in touch today, and let’s get your home smelling like new again!