Last summer, my husband and two sons went on a fishing excursion.
They spent the day out on the lake and came back with a cooler full of fish.
We cooked a portion of their catch on the barbecue that night. The rest, we placed in the freezer to save for a later date. Over the winter, I thought it would be a nice treat to thaw out the rest of the fish and bake it. Unfortunately, my whole house filled with the odor of fish. While the meal was tasty, the smell became a problem. It was everywhere. The living room, every bedroom and bathroom and even our closets reeked of fish. With outdoor temperatures in the low teens, there was no possibility of opening a window. I tried spraying room deodorizer, lighting scented candles and opening boxes of baking soda. Nothing got rid of the odor. I realized that the smell had gotten into the ductwork and was being perpetuated by the furnace. I did some research and figured out that there was most likely a buildup of dust and other contaminants concealed inside the ducts. This debris had absorbed the odor. I then scheduled an appointment for duct cleaning. The contractor brought in a machine that resembled an industrial-sized vacuum cleaner. It was outfitted with an extremely long hose and a brush attachment. The brush was inserted into the ducts to dislodge pollutants and suck them up. The process took a couple of hours and caused mess or damage. The result was incredible. Not only was the smell of fish completely eliminated but we noticed a significant improvement in the comfort of the home. The furnace no longer has to run as long or use as much energy. My heating bills are lower and I don’t need to dust or vacuum as often. The temperature from one room to another is more consistent.