What's the Smell Coming From My Air Ducts?

If your home has central air conditioning or a forced-air heating system, it relies on a series of ducts and vents to distribute air throughout your home. Sometimes, these ducts can give off a less-than-pleasant odor. If your air ducts are emitting an odd smell, here are some potential reasons why:

• Dusty smell. The average three-bedroom home generates more than 40 pounds of dust per year, much of which collects in your air ducts. It is common for your  vents to circulate this dust throughout your house, especially the first few times you use your heating or cooling system each season. 
• Moldy smell. Your air ducts are also a popular hiding spot for mold and mildew, which spreads by reproducing microscopic spores. These spores don't just give off an unpleasant odor, they can also trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks.
• Burning smell. If it smells like something is burning or melting, it's possible that one of the components inside your HVAC system is overheating. This can happen to heating or cooling systems – turn yours off and call a local repair service if you notice a burning smell coming from your ducts.
• Rancid smell. If the smell coming out of your air ducts falls under the “rancid” category, it's possible that you may be dealing with dead animals. Rats and mice can get trapped inside of your HVAC ducts, and their carcasses don't smell very good at all.

Are the air ducts in your home giving off an unpleasant scent? Consider having them professionally cleaned. Using a powerful truck-mounted vacuum and rotary brush, an air duct cleaning service can effectively remove all of the contaminants from your ductwork and leave your home feeling fresh. If you live on Long Island, call GreenPro Cleaning & Restoration for a free estimate at (631) 940-8100.