Nothing is worse than turning on your heat or air conditioning, expecting relief from the weather outside, and instead having an unpleasant odor emit from your unit’s vents. The air in your home should be fresh and filled with inviting scents, not smelly and unappealing. If there is an unpleasant smell coming from your air vents, it’s a clear sign that something is off. We recommend contacting your trusted local HVAC technician. In this article, we will explore the various odors that can come from your air vents and their causes.
Should I Be Concerned?
Turning on your HVAC system and smelling something unpleasant coming from your air vents can be alarming. Some smells coming from your vents are considered fairly normal and can be resolved through routine maintenance visits with your local HVAC technician. However, it is important to be aware of odors that indicate a more serious issue requiring immediate attention.
Common Odors That Come from Vents
- Mildew: A musty, mildew odor is common when turning on your air conditioning. It can be an indication that there is extra moisture or mold in your system. If there is mold in your air vents, turning on your HVAC system can spread mold spores around your home. This can cause health problems for your family.
- Burning Smell: It is normal to smell a burning scent from your vents when you turn on the heat for the first time due to dust that may have collected in the furnace while not in use. A lingering burning smell could indicate a clogged air filter or faulty wiring. If the smell persists, you should turn off your system immediately.
- Rotting Garbage: Sometimes small animals can get into air ducts. A rotten smell from your vents can mean a small animal has passed away in your vents and needs to be removed.
An unusual smell coming from your vents is a sign that something is wrong. The first step is determining what’s causing the smell. If you can’t determine what’s causing the smell, we recommend calling a trusted HVAC contractor as soon as possible.
Which Smells That Come from Your HVAC Are Dangerous?
- Rotting Eggs: The smell of rotten eggs is commonly associated with natural gas and is a sign of a gas leak. Turn off your system immediately, leave the house and call your local gas and HVAC companies.
- Sewage: Smelling sewage or methane coming from your vents is not only unpleasant but can indicate there is a sewage leak around your home.
- Acetone: If you are smelling acetone coming from your air vents, it can mean there is a refrigerant leak in your HVAC system. The refrigerant used in air conditioning is flammable; any leak should be addressed quickly.
Air Duct Cleaning
Regular air duct cleaning is an important part of keeping the air in your home smelling fresh. Air ducts play a vital role in circulating air throughout your home. As air moves through the ducts, it carries along dust, hair, allergens, and other particles that become trapped and accumulate within the ducts over time. This buildup not only leads to musty odors but also spreads allergens and reduces the efficiency of your system. We recommend air duct cleaning every 1 to 3 years to ensure your HVAC system is running at peak performance.
ABA HVAC & Home Solutions- Industry Leading HVAC Maintenance
Regular maintenance of your air vents and HVAC system can stop most smells before they become a nuisance. It can also keep your system running as efficiently as possible. At ABA HVAC & Home Solutions our technicians are expertly trained to maintain HVAC systems and eliminate any unwanted smells from coming out of your vents. If there are unpleasant odors coming from your air vents Contact Us today for a free phone consultation!