Air Duct Repair in Los Angeles After Wildfire Smoke: When It’s Worth It

Wildfires around Los Angeles are becoming more common with climate change and can quickly fill a home with smoke, damaging HVAC systems and, most importantly, your clean, breathable air. The fine particles wildfire smoke brings can also get trapped in air ducts. Do you need duct cleaning in Los Angeles, CA, after a wildfire? The answer depends on your situation, which is why Service Genius created this guide.

Does Wildfire Smoke Actually Get Into Your Air Ducts?

Wildfire smoke, gas, and ash can get stuck in home air ducts, especially during longer periods of smoke exposure. This is even more likely with flexible ductwork than with sheet metal, as flexible ducts hold smoke odors and particles more easily. Either way, a professional air duct cleaning job by Service Genius will help.

When Air Duct Cleaning After Wildfire Smoke Is Worth Considering

Consider duct cleaning services if the smoke was heavy and lingered around your home for a long time, especially if your HVAC system kept running.

Another sign you need wildfire smoke air duct cleaning in Los Angeles is soot or ash around your vents or a consistent smoky smell every time you turn on the HVAC system. Older homes with leaky ductwork and old HVAC filters will always benefit from air duct cleaning after a wildfire in Los Angeles. 

Attic ductwork also needs inspection, as it is a common entry point for smoke after a wildfire. 

Never try to clean the ducts by sweeping them or using a home vacuum. This just redistributes the residue into the air you breathe. 

When Your Ducts May Not Need to Be Cleaned

Not every smoke event requires air vent cleaning after a wildfire in Los Angeles. If your home windows were closed, your air filter is relatively new, and your air ducts are properly sealed and in good condition, you probably don’t need air duct smoke removal in Los Angeles, but you do need a good home cleaning to remove the smoke smell. 

It’s a good idea to have Service Genius assess your vents with an air duct inspection after the wildfire in Los Angeles. 

Signs Smoke, Ash, or Debris May Be Inside Your HVAC System

There are a few signs to look out for to determine if there is wildfire smoke in your HVAC system in Los Angeles:

• A smoke odor from air vents in your Los Angeles home.
• Dust or ash by return vents.
• A clogged and dark air filter earlier than normal.
• More dust around the home after a complete cycle.
• Coughing, watery eyes, and skin irritation indoors.

Usually, if you notice a combination of these signs, it points to smoke in the air ducts in your Los Angeles home. Wildfire odors and debris can also remain in an HVAC system for months after the smoke clears.

Why Smoke Odors Can Linger After Outdoor Air Quality Improves

Sometimes a lingering smoky odor comes from smoke particles clinging to furniture, carpet, upholstery, insulation, your walls, etc. Each time your HVAC system runs, it moves air across your home and furniture. The smoky smell can return as it moves off those materials. 

How Wildfire Particles Enter a Los Angeles HVAC System

Wildfire smoke travels through your home, clinging to the air, and can enter through leaky return ducts in crawl spaces, attics, and garages. A home full of air leaks allows it to seep in. 

Your HVAC system will also quickly move the smoke through your home and disperse it through your vents. 

Check Your HVAC Filter After a Wildfire Smoke Event

Your HVAC filter is the easiest way to assess whether wildfire smoke in your home or system will be an issue. Pull it out and check if it is discolored and clogged. If the filter looks dirtier than it should, the discoloration means a lot of smoke got into and through your HVAC filter after the wildfire in Los Angeles and into your venting. Replace it with a MERV 13 filter or higher and check it again in a week. 

Not all HVAC systems can support MERV 13, but use the highest rating your system allows. To see what filter your system supports, check your HVAC system’s manufacturer label and inspect the unit’s filter slot size.

If the replacement filter darkens quickly, it means airborne smoke particles are cycling through your entire system. This suggests you need either an HVAC cleaning or an air vent cleaning.

What to Look for Around Supply and Return Vents

Always look for soot and ash around your supply and return vents. If you can do so safely, remove a few covers and shine a flashlight inside the opening. If you see fine dark dust, soot-like residue, or visible ash near the openings, it usually means wildfire ash is in your air ducts in Los Angeles.

You can tell it’s soot and ash by its dark color and whether it smears on your fingers. If you find multiple spots of soot and ash, call for an air duct cleaner from Service Genius. 

Why the Evaporator Coil and Blower Should Also Be Inspected

Smoke residue and buildup can quickly move through an HVAC system and cling to evaporator coils and blower components. Dirty coils quicken wear and tear and hold smoky odors. A blower wheel clogged with ash and soot can also spread through your ducts and home every time the HVAC system turns on. 

Can Air Duct Cleaning Remove Wildfire Smoke Residue?

Professional ductwork cleaning can remove smoke residue, soot, and dust that have settled inside your duct system. The process loosens buildup, then uses powerful equipment to pull contaminants out of the ducts.

If smoke entered through leaks in the ductwork, cleaning alone will not fix the source of the problem. An inspection after heavy smoke exposure can identify leaks or damage that may also need attention.

Duct cleaning also will not remove smoke odors trapped in furniture, upholstery, carpets, or walls. Those surfaces may require separate cleaning or restoration services.

Duct Cleaning vs. HVAC System Cleaning After Smoke Exposure

Duct cleaning focuses on the ductwork, including the supply and return ducts and the registers. It may also qualify for rebates. A full HVAC system cleaning goes further and includes the blower components, the evaporator coil, and other components where particles settle. If smoke has passed through your air filter, it has likely affected your entire system, and it needs an HVAC cleaning after wildfire smoke in Los Angeles.

How Leaky Ductwork Can Pull Smoke and Outdoor Pollutants Indoors

When your ductwork has gaps or loosened sections, smoke and other outdoor pollutants easily find their way through. Poorly sealed connections and joints are a common spot in older ductwork. Sealing these spots will leave your ductwork defending against the next wave of smoke from another wildfire. 

How to Reduce Smoke Infiltration During the Next Wildfire Event

Follow this list of tips to reduce smoke infiltration during the next impending smoke event: 

• Keep spare air filters on hand, and consider getting higher-grade ones if your system can handle them.
• During a smoke event, set your HVAC system to recirculate instead of drawing in outdoor air.
• Keep windows and doors closed during a smoke event.
• Have your ductwork inspected and any leaks patched before wildfire season.
• Run the HVAC system continuously during a smoke event if you have a clean and high-grade filter installed.
• Consider purchasing a portable HEPA air cleaner, which can help even if your ductwork isn’t cleaned.

How Service Genius Evaluates HVAC Systems After Wildfire Smoke

At Service Genius, we always inspect your system, checking the coils and blower components for any HVAC smoke residue left in your Los Angeles home and for points where duct leaks may occur. We also do the same during a ductwork inspection. Based on what we find, we provide recommendations that may include duct or HVAC system cleaning, and we always leave your system in better shape than we found it. 

Service Genius services Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. We’ve helped hundreds of customers and are ready to help you.

Have Your HVAC System Checked After Wildfire Smoke With Service Genius

If you are worried about your indoor air quality after wildfire smoke in Los Angeles, call the pros. Choose Service Genius for heating, cooling, water heater, and indoor air quality service across Los Angeles, from Chatsworth to Santa Monica. Contact Service Genius today!