When smoking inside of a home, you can expect smoke to coat itself onto every surface. Over a period, the smoke builds up on the walls, floors, ceilings, appliances, furniture, etc until everything is coated in nicotine tar. Smoke cannot be contained to one area of a home as it travels though doors, windows and even cracks. While opening windows and using fans may help, it will not eliminate the smoke from a home in its entirety. Smoke residue is extremely hard to clean and even more difficult to get rid of the smell.
As smoke travels throughout your home, it filters through your HVAC system. Once pulled into your system, the smoke is distributed and circulated throughout your home 5 to 7 times per day, on average. While you can visibly see a yellow film that stains the other areas of your home, the chemical buildup from smoke in your ductwork is not as easily identified. Inside your ductwork, you will find a buildup that is oily and sticky in nature because of the nicotine. Due to the nature of the residue, dust, dirt, debris, and other containments stick and buildup more quickly.
How do you know if there is smoke residue in your ductwork?
The first sign is to look for a build up and residue on things in the home such as ceilings, walls, curtains, furniture, etc. These items will start to develop a film and/or yellow tint. Secondly, listen to your nose. If you smell an increase or strong tobacco odor when you turn on your system- this is a telltale sign as dust in your duct work is likely to hold odors. Thirdly, if someone in your home is a smoker, it is recommended to have your air ducts cleaned more frequently to ensure better indoor air quality. However, in some cases, air duct cleaning will not be a failproof fix as the odor from smoke may also be absorbed into carpets and walls. Repainting a home and/or carpet removal may be required for full remediation.
How can air duct cleaning help?
The ductwork in a home is equivalent to the lungs in your body. The ductwork circulates the air you breathe as well as any contaminants trapped in the ductwork. A proper air duct cleaning will remove all containments including tobacco smoke residue from inside your ductwork. Once the ductwork is cleaned and contaminants removed, the system is then sanitized. The sanitizer will help to kill any remaining bacteria or lingering odors. Take the first step today by calling Advanced Air Duct Cleaning at 1-877-4 FRESH AIR.
