Best air duct cleaners near Pueblitos, NM

Figuring out why you have a musty smell in your house is the first step to getting rid of it. Mold or mildew is most likely causing the unpleasant odor. People use these terms interchangeably, but they’re actually different.

Mold is a fungus that loves to grow in moist, humid places. It’s typically black or green and has a raised, uneven texture. Stay vigilant for signs mold may be growing in your home. 

You’ll find mildew growing on your shower walls and in your bathroom’s nooks and crannies. It’s a specific type of mold that grows flat. Mildew is usually white, gray, or yellow.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using an EPA-registered disinfectant product to disinfect a house properly. If such a product isn't handy, a strong bleach solution can disinfect high-touch surfaces. Before hiring a professional, be sure to discuss the type of chemicals and disinfectants they plan to use to ensure they’re safe for household use.

It is generally not a good idea to completely cover or close air vents. While you might have heard that closing vents in unused rooms saves energy, it does not improve HVAC performance or lower your energy bills. In fact, blocking, covering, or fully closing vents can create a buildup of pressure inside your ducts, which can lead to leaks, holes, or other problems. To maintain proper airflow, you should also avoid covering vents with furniture. If you want to reduce airflow to unoccupied parts of your home, it is better to partially shut the vents (between 50% and 75%) rather than closing them completely.

You do need dampers in your HVAC system, but they do help to regulate airflow and give you better control of the temperature in each room of your home. Most HVAC systems will have dampers installed, but this isn't always the case. If you don’t have designated zones in your home, you’ll likely still have valve control dampers on your supply vents for manual control.