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We rely on our air conditioning systems to keep us cool and comfortable in warm weather. But a problem like a terrible odor coming from air conditioning vents can spell trouble. A correctly working AC vent fan should distribute air evenly to all the rooms in the house, so it's not always easy to pinpoint where the odor originated. The cause of the issue can depend on the type of smell you notice, and we will cover how to identify the source of odors that might be present in your air conditioning vents. Depending on the severity of your issue, you may be able to solve it yourself with some easy at-home fixes, or it may require the help of a professional. We'll cover this and more in this guide to air conditioning odors.

Types of Odors

Any odor coming from air conditioning vents can make for an unpleasant experience in the home. Your home's ductwork distributes conditioned air to every room, which means any noxious odors can circulate along with it. That makes it a little more challenging to pinpoint where the problem is, but you can determine the cause of the bad smell with a little investigating. Various causes can lead to unpleasant smells in your air vents, and they can cause a wide range of odors. Identifying the type of smell can help determine the origin, so you can fix the problem. Let's look at some of the most common types of odors found in air conditioning vents, and what can lead to each one.

Dirty Socks or Stinky Feet

If you notice a smell coming from your HVAC vents that reminds you of dirty socks or stinky feet, mold or mildew somewhere in the system is the most likely culprit. This common issue deserves your quick attention. Mold and mildew in your ductwork can aggravate allergies and cause severe respiratory illness for anyone in your household. Check each room and vent to see if the smells seem more noticeable in a specific area. If you find small patches of mold on air vents, you can wipe them away with a disinfecting cloth. However, if the mold and mildew are more pervasive within your ductwork, you may need professional remediation services.

Rotting Garbage

Nobody wants an unsettling smell like rotting garbage coming from their air ducts. If you notice an odor like this in your home, the most likely cause is a dead creature trapped inside your ductwork. When the colder temperatures of fall and winter arrive, animals of all sorts seek warmth and shelter, sometimes getting into the ductwork and other hard-to-reach areas in our homes. Unfortunately, some of these animals then pass away inside the house, and the decaying remains leave quite a nasty smell. You'll want to remove it as soon as possible.

Sewage

A sewage smell coming from the air conditioner can be worrying. Unfortunately, the source of this odor is generally actual sewage. It's possible the plumbing or a sewer vent pipe has a crack or leak somewhere in the system. If the leak is near the air conditioning ductwork, the ducts and vents can rapidly spread the smell throughout your home. You'll want to pinpoint the source of the leak and have it repaired to keep this smell at bay.

Rotten Eggs

Rotten eggs have an unmistakably sulfuric smell. Natural gas has a similar scent added in to help people detect dangerous leaks, because the gas itself is odorless. If you notice a rotten egg or sulfur smell in the house, coming from your air conditioning vents or anywhere else, it could indicate a natural gas leak. Natural gas is flammable, and carbon monoxide poisoning can cause severe health issues. In extreme cases, a gas leak can even be fatal. If you smell natural gas, open all the windows right away and leave the house. Contact your utility company to identify the leak's source and repair it quickly.

Burning

A burning smell anywhere in the home is very unsettling. If you notice a burning smell in the house, check around for anything that might have caught fire. If everything is safe, check around your heating system. You'll want to assess whether the burning smell is worse around the heater. In this case, you likely have a problem with the fan or other mechanical issue inside the heater causing extra friction and overheating of the fan and other nearby parts. These issues cause a burning smell to spread throughout the ductwork. Call a professional HVAC expert to check out your heating system and solve the problem.

Fresh Matches or Sulfur

If you have a different kind of sulfur smell in the house — more like a freshly struck match than a rotten egg — several things can cause this. The first concerns a specific drywall type used in home renovations in the early and mid-2000s. This drywall comes from China, and was prevalent throughout Florida, but could be in other states, too. It contains toxic levels of sulfur that can cause corrosion and possible health consequences. If you had home renovations during that time and notice a sulfur smell, check with your contractor or builder to see if you need a drywall replacement. If this is not the case for your home, and you still notice that freshly struck match scent, there may be an issue with your heating system's mechanical features, such as a shorting out of the circuit boards or other electronic components. An HVAC technician can diagnose and solve this particular issue with odor coming from air conditioning vents.

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What to Do About Odor Coming from Air Conditioning Vents

As we've seen with the types of air duct odors, these unique smells can have a wide range of causes and different methods of resolving them. Extensive problems may require professional help. However, the most common issue by far is a musty odor in the air vents, and you can try to tackle that yourself. These musty odors usually result from mold or mildew somewhere in the system, indicating a thorough cleaning is in order. You can take a few simple steps to clean your air conditioning system yourself and help eliminate those bothersome odors. Below, we'll review various troubleshooting solutions you can try. A quick safety note: Before beginning any HVAC cleaning projects, please wear protective clothing. If you are working in enclosed areas that may have mold, your health should be your top priority. Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, goggles, a face mask, gloves and closed-toed shoes or work boots. Also, turn off your HVAC system at the thermostat and the circuit breaker before attempting any cleaning or maintenance. Finally, if you are not comfortable performing any task yourself, seek professional assistance.

1. Clean the Evaporator Coil

In this first solution, we'll go over how to clean out your evaporator coil. This component is a crucial part of any air conditioning system, and is responsible for much of the cooling process. However, the evaporator coil can quickly become dirty and harbor mold and mildew. You'll want to have a cleaning solution ready before you start. You can purchase coil cleaner at any home improvement store, or make a DIY bleach solution at home. Undiluted bleach can harm the system, so use a 10% solution of bleach in water, then follow these steps. Remove the access panel : Most air conditioning systems have an easy-to-remove panel that will give you access to the evaporator coil. : Most air conditioning systems have an easy-to-remove panel that will give you access to the evaporator coil. Vacuum up dirt and debris : Use your vacuum's hose attachment to brush away any extra dust, dirt and other debris around the coils and other components of the air conditioner. : Use your vacuum's hose attachment to brush away any extra dust, dirt and other debris around the coils and other components of the air conditioner. Check for bent fins : You can repair any damaged or misshapen fins with simple tools like a screwdriver or a fin comb, available at most home improvement stores. Then, go ahead and remove the fins by loosening the hex screws holding them in place. : You can repair any damaged or misshapen fins with simple tools like a screwdriver or a fin comb, available at most home improvement stores. Then, go ahead and remove the fins by loosening the hex screws holding them in place. Spray-clean the coils : You should now have full access to the coils and can spray your cleaning solution directly on them. Wipe with a clean cloth. Remove the collection pan and clean this off with your cleaning spray, too. : You should now have full access to the coils and can spray your cleaning solution directly on them. Wipe with a clean cloth. Remove the collection pan and clean this off with your cleaning spray, too. Reassemble: Put all the components back together in the proper order, and turn on the system again to see if you've cleared up the musty smell.

2. Unclog the AC Condensate Drain Line

The condensate drain line is where the excess moisture drains out of the air conditioning unit from the collection pan. If a clog occurs here, water can't drain properly and can back up in the collection pan, increasing the risk of mold and mildew growth. If you notice water pooling in your system, this is a likely cause of a weird odor coming from air conditioning vents. Use a wet vac to suck up any excess water. The wet vac may even have enough suction to remove whatever is clogging the drain pipe. If this doesn't work, and you don't see any apparent clogs, it may be time to call in a professional to take a look.

3. Clean the AC Air Filter

The air filters in your HVAC unit are another likely culprit for unusual odor coming from air conditioning vents, and they are easy to clean and change. Check these filters every few months and change them regularly for proper maintenance of your HVAC system. The air filters catch dust and dirt in the ductwork, keeping it out of the air you breathe. But over time, this debris builds up and impedes airflow. It can also create a breeding ground for extra moisture and mold growth in the ducts.

To check your filters, take the following steps.

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Remove them from your HVAC system and use your vacuum to clean away all the excess dust and dirt. Then, wipe them with a clean dusting cloth to remove any remaining dust. If you hold the filter up to the light and see nothing shining through, it's time for a replacement. Place your clean or new filters back in place and run the system to see if that removes the mold smell from your house vents.

4. Use Duct Filter Pads

Sometimes air conditioner smells are harmless, but still annoying, and it's impossible to determine the cause. If you've tried other solutions to treat an odor coming from air conditioning vents with no luck, duct filter pads are an easy fix. These little filters neatly fit in your vent covers, and are available at many home improvement stores. Look for filter pads that fit your duct vents' size and shape, then install by unscrewing each of your vent covers, placing the pad underneath and screwing the vents back into place.

5. Use Baking Soda in Your Ductwork

Baking soda is an ideal fix for odor coming from air conditioning vents, as it naturally absorbs all sorts of smells. If the AC smells bad and the odors are coming from inside the ducts, you may have to put the baking soda inside the ductwork for maximum effectiveness. Look for packaging that allows for maximum baking soda exposure to the air, like "fridge packs" that let you peel off the whole side of the box to expose the baking soda. Or, place small dishes of baking soda in strategic locations inside your ductwork.

6. Hire a Professional Duct Cleaning Service

If you've tried some DIY methods and you're still noticing odor coming from air conditioning vents, it may be time for professional help. Here are some other telltale signs you need a trained technician to help with your air conditioning and heating vents. Pests and critters : Whether you have a dead animal or a live pest infestation, it's best to call for someone to take care of the issue and ensure there's no risk of diseases from these unwanted houseguests. : Whether you have a dead animal or a live pest infestation, it's best to call for someone to take care of the issue and ensure there's no risk of diseases from these unwanted houseguests. Significant mold growth : Noticeable mold in AC vents is never a good sign, and something you'll want the professionals to handle right away. If you have a pervasive mold problem, it can become a severe health hazard, so have a trusted team immediately take care of this issue. : Noticeable mold in AC vents is never a good sign, and something you'll want the professionals to handle right away. If you have a pervasive mold problem, it can become a severe health hazard, so have a trusted team immediately take care of this issue. Larger clogs in the ductwork : If you have clogs of dust and debris that you can't see or access, you may need professional help. : If you have clogs of dust and debris that you can't see or access, you may need professional help. Other ductwork issues: If you have large ductwork sections you can't see, think you may have leaks in your system or have another odor issue you can't solve on your own, a professional HVAC technician can help you. If you still have questions about an odor coming from air conditioning vents in your home, the experts at Ingram's Water & Air can help. Give us a call at 270-575-9595 or contact us online. Our experienced and helpful representatives are happy to take your questions and help you with your HVAC issues. At Ingram's Water & Air, we are experts in home comfort, and have innovative products for your home heating and cooling needs.

iwae.com - Odor Coming From Air Conditioning Vents