Indoor Air Quality in McKinney, TX
SmartWay finds the source of dust, musty smells and damp air in the heating and cooling system in McKinney homes. The diagnostic is $65, waived with repair. License TACLA00108954C.
Quoted at your home before any work starts. Texas license TACLA00108954C. Open 7 days, 7am to 7pm.
Indoor air complaints in a ducted system usually come back to four places: the filter and its rack, the evaporator coil and drain pan, the blower, and the return ducts in the attic. The technician checks each one and tells you which is causing the dust, smell or damp air.
Damp air has a different fix than dust or a smell, so tell us which one you notice when you book.
Common indoor air problems
Dust is back on everything a day later
Air is slipping around the filter instead of through it. The usual causes are a filter that is the wrong size for the rack, or a missing or loose filter door. Dust then goes straight to the blower and coil and out the vents. The fix is the right filter size and a sealed rack.
Musty smell when the air conditioner kicks on
Water sitting on a dirty evaporator coil or in the drain pan grows mold, and the blower pushes the smell out of the vents. Cleaning the coil, pan and blower wheel and clearing the drain line is the first fix.
The house feels damp at the set temperature
The AC is cooling the air without pulling enough water out of it. The cause is usually a blower or fan setting, a leaking return duct, or a system that short cycles.
The air filter clogs in a couple of weeks
Pets, nearby construction and a fan left ON all day load a filter faster. A 1-inch filter has little surface to hold that dust. A 4 to 5 inch media filter in a filter cabinet holds far more before it restricts airflow. If it still clogs fast, the technician checks whether attic air is getting into the return.
Signs of an indoor air problem
- Dust puffs out of the vents when the system starts: dirty blower wheel
- Standing water in the main drain pan at the air handler: drain line starting to clog
- Water in the secondary pan under the unit, or stains on the ceiling below it: clogged condensate drain line
- Dark streaks on the ceiling around vents: attic air leaking in at the vent boot, dust passing around the filter, or candle soot
- Filter looks wet or warped when you pull it: water from the coil or a clogged drain reaching the filter
What the visit includes
- You pay $65 for the diagnostic visit, and nothing for it if you have the repair done.
- The technician checks the filter and rack, blower, evaporator coil, drain pan and drain line, and the ducts that can be reached.
- You hear what was found and get the price for the repair or upgrade before any work starts.
- A coil, blower motor or duct section that has to be ordered goes in on a return trip.
Brands and equipment
We work on the furnaces, air handlers, coils and filter racks behind indoor air problems on American Standard, Lennox, Carrier, Trane, Goodman, Rheem, Daikin, Bryant, Samsung and Cooper & Hunter equipment. On a ducted system or heat pump, the filter, coil and blower sit together in the attic furnace or air handler. On a ductless mini split, dust and mold collect on the indoor head coil and blower wheel.
Where we do indoor air quality
Indoor Air Quality is available in all 14 cities we serve from our McKinney shop: McKinney, Frisco, Prosper, Plano, Allen, Celina, Anna, Melissa, Lucas, Murphy, Richardson, Garland, Sachse and Princeton.
Common questions
How much does an indoor air quality check cost?
The check is the $65 heating and cooling diagnostic, waived if you go ahead with the repair. After it, the technician tells you the price for anything recommended before any work starts. Swapping a filter or clearing a drain line sits at the low end. Cleaning a coil or adding a filter cabinet costs more, and replacing a duct run or coil is quoted at the home.
How soon can you come out?
We book 7 days a week, 7am to 7pm: pick a time online or call (469) 607-4241. Melissa is about 10 minutes from the shop and Garland about 35.
How often should I change my air filter?
Check a 1-inch filter every month and change it when it looks gray, which for many homes is every one to three months. Pets, nearby construction or a leaking return shorten that. A 4 to 5 inch media filter in a filter cabinet usually lasts six months to a year.
Should I buy the highest MERV filter I can find?
No, not for a 1-inch filter slot. A high-MERV 1-inch filter can cut airflow enough to freeze the AC coil or overheat a furnace. MERV 8 to 11 suits most 1-inch racks. For finer filtration, the rack has to be replaced with a deeper filter cabinet, which the technician can price at the visit.
Is a musty smell from the vents coming from the ducts?
Usually not. The coil and drain pan are checked first, because that is where water sits. A duct holds a musty smell mostly when it has been wet, from a torn duct that sweats or a pan that overflowed. If a section has been wet, the technician will show it to you and quote replacing it.
Can a humid house be fixed without a new AC?
Often, yes. Setting the fan to AUTO, slowing the blower and sealing leaking return ducts all help the AC pull more water out of the air. If the system is too large for the house and short cycles, those changes help less, and the technician will say so along with the price of each option.
From customers
“Prompt, reasonable prices. Fixes stuff and doesn't try to sell you a new one!”
“I've been using SmartWay Appliance Repair for a few years now, and they've been consistently great.”
Indoor air quality service in McKinney and 13 nearby cities
Open 7 days, 7am to 7pm. Same-day appointments are often available.