Service Your Compressor Or Condenser
Consider installing condensers on the north or east side of your home, or building a screen to protect them from the sun. As much as 10% of their effectiveness is lost when exposed to direct sunshine. Plumbing and heating expert, Richard Trethewey of TOH, says:
The air compressor and condenser of a central air conditioning system are often positioned outside of the home, near the foundation. Get rid of shrubs, tall grass, leaves, and hanging branches in the immediate area to get the greatest results.
Will Lysol Kill Mold
Lysol does have disinfecting products, including their mold and mildew remover spray. It eliminates mold and mildew stains, bleaches surfaces and kills 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria.
However, this product is intended for bathroom surfaces, so use on air vents at your own risk. The manufacturer does state that prolonged contact with surfaces made from metal, old porcelain or plastic laminate can lead to discoloration.
You can try other Lysol products, such as a disinfectant spray. But these are intended to prevent mold and mildew, rather than kill it. It is better for odor, bacteria and viruses than anything else.
Why Is There Black Dust/mold On My Ac Vents
Worried about the black dust coming out of your vents?
Youre right to be concernedwhatever the black dust is, its probably not healthy to breathe.
Black dust coming out of AC vents is usually caused by:
- Candle or fireplace soot
In this blog, well explain each of these causes in more detail, and how you can determine which cause you may have.
Want a professional to fix your black dust issue? Our technicians are ready to help with any AC repairs you may need.
Air vents ought to be clean for the air in your house to be pure and safe. But when you see black dust settling around air vents, something is definitely wrong. What could be the cause and how can you get rid of the black particles from the air ducts?
Black dust around air vents can be mold, soot, or dust that combines with moisture to form moldy stuff on air conditioner vents. To remove the black dust, wipe the air vents with a piece of cloth soaked in a vinegar solution and then reduce the dust and humidity in your house.
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How Mold Grows In Air Conditioners
Mold spores are everywhere. Unfortunately, it is impossible to get rid of all the mold spores in your house, and even if you did, more would come in every time you opened a door or window. When spores grow into mold, more spores are released, and these higher concentrations of spores are what cause the health problems associated with mold. Thus, the key is to prevent the mold from growing in the first place.
Mold needs two things in order to grow: moisture and an organic food source. Moisture can come from high humidity, or a leak or spill that is not cleaned up properly. Condenser and evaporator coils are the main contributors to condensation, and therefore have potential for water leakage if not properly drained. The food source can be the surface the mold is growing on, like wood or carpet, or organic particles found in dust, if there is enough of it.
Under most circumstances, air conditioners and HVAC ducts are not hospitable places for mold to grow. Sheet metal ducts and styrofoam channels inside window units do not offer mold a food source. However, dust often collects in these places, which can allow mold to grow.
Mold In Air Conditioners: How To Clean And Prevent Growth
Mold and mold spores can reduce the air quality in your home, especially if someone in your household has a mold allergy. Mold growing in the bathroom or basement is bad enough, but what if mold grows in your air conditioner or inside the ducts of your HVAC system? We will explain how mold might form in a window-unit air conditioner or in ductwork, how to prevent it, and what to do if you do find mold in your air conditioner.
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How To Identify Mold Inside Air Vents
So, you know somethings going on inside your air vents, but you arent exactly sure what kind of fungal growth youre looking at.
Your first step might be to research the colour and texture of the mold to narrow down what it could be. However, even then you could get the answer wrong. The only safe and sure way is to hire a mold professional to perform a mold test and thorough inspection of your HVAC system.
Once you know what kind of mold youre dealing with, you can take the appropriate steps necessary to eradicate it.
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How To Clean Black Mold On Air Conditioner Vents
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Air conditioner vents can be breeding grounds for black mold. Condensation forms in the coils and ducts as cool air circulates through the system, creating a habitat for moisture-loving mold. Black mold can cause severe respiratory symptoms, particularly in people who are allergic to mold. After you clean your air conditioner vents, inspect walls and insulation to find the source of the black mold infestation.
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What Are Dust Mites And Why Should You Care
One of the more common contaminants that can be found in uncleaned ductwork is a dust mite infestation. Dust mites are small insect-like creatures closely related to ticks and spiders. Theyre extremely small, requiring a microscope to see. Because theyre too small to be seen by the human eye, dust mite infestations are very hard to find. In fact, theres a good chance that your home is hosting a colony of dust mites already about four out of every five American households have dust mites living in at least one bedroom. They typically prefer warm, humid spaces and are generally found in bedding and upholstered furniture. Mites are often found in beds because they feed on dead human skin cells that fall off while we sleep.
The good news is that the dust mites themselves are completely harmless. They dont bite, burrow, or sting and they have no interest in trying to eat any living cells. In fact, by feeding on your dead skin cells, they help to keep your home just a little bit cleaner. However, dust mites arent completely benign as house guests. Proximity to mites can cause allergy-like symptoms in many people, especially anyone suffering from asthma. While were not allergic to the mites themselves, proteins left behind in their feces, urine, and decaying bodies can irritate and inflame your nasal passages.
Why Have Your Air Vents Cleaned
According to the EPA, there are 3 main reasons you might want to have your ducts or air vents cleaned:
If your HVAC system is in a crawl space, it is also more likely to be prone to leaks and mold growth. For more information see our post: HVAC System in Your Crawl Space? You May Be Breathing Dirty Air.
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How To Clean Mold From Air Conditioner Coils 5 Easy Steps
An essential part of an ACs maintenance is keeping its coils clean, so you might want to know how to clean mold from air conditioner coils. Whats even important is keeping them from growing even more.
If the coils are not clean with grime and debris, the airflow passing through the coils will be limited. In such a case, the air conditioning system will have to work harder to cool the room.
In some cases, it will even burn itself after working that much. Debris, dust, and dirt are also the perfect breeding ground for mildew, mold, and bacteria to grow. This will cause health problems as it increases the spores of mold circulating through the air in your house.
Not only that, but it will also cause your electric bills to increase. A biofilm will start to develop on the coils if the air is limited and mold build-up. This will create a barrier inside the coils. As a result, the unit will not be exchanging heat as it normally does.
With that being said, it is important to clean up those mold from the coils.
How To Prevent Mold In Air Vents
Of course, the best way to eliminate mold in your air vents is to prevent it from forming in the first place! Want to keep yours as clean as possible? Here are a few steps to take:
- Keep your HVAC ducts clean
- Make sure there is no furniture blocking your air vents
- Clean your drip pans regularly
- Seal all vent leaks immediately
- Use a dehumidifier to balance the moisture level in your air
- Properly size any new HVAC installations
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The Importance Of Duct Cleaning
There are a couple of major benefits of duct cleaning. The first is what we touched on in the paragraph above health and safety. Ductwork is designed to be a closed system, and there are plenty of fail-safes that prevent dust and other contaminants from entering your air supply. Vent covers and grills keep everything in your house from entering the ducts, and the air filter in your AC unit prevents anything from entering the ducts from outside. However, no system is perfect, and small particulates are going to gradually build up inside the ductwork no matter how often you clean the vent covers. All of that buildup can get blown right back out into your house by the air conditioner, potentially causing allergies and other respiratory reactions.
Besides dust mites, the other major thing to look out for is mold growing in the ducts. Mold typically prefers more humid areas, but it can be very insidious and has been known to take hold in the ducts as well. If only a few spores make their way into the vents, a whole colony of mold can start to grow. The real problem is when that mold releases spores of its own. The air conditioner can blow the spores to other parts of the ductwork or just straight into your house. From there, the spores can start growing new mold anywhere in your house and can also cause respiratory problems if you inhale them while theyre in the air. To get rid of mold, the ductwork will have to be completely cleaned and sanitized by a professional.
What Are The Health Hazards Of Mold
Mold growth can have serious health hazards, which is why it should be treated timely. Mold spores can be inhaled into your lungs, which may lead to a fungal infection called hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Symptoms of this type of lung disease include cough with phlegm, fever, and shortness of breath. Some people who get a serious enough case may need to go on an oxygen tank or even have surgery if the infection spreads to their chest.
Mold spores can also cause allergic reactions in those who are sensitive to them. Symptoms of a mold allergy may include itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, wheezing, or shortness of breath for some people. Some individuals with asthma may find that their symptoms worsen when they come into contact with molds.
Mold is also a potential trigger for asthma or allergies in children. Children may be especially sensitive to mold spores because their immune systems are still developing. For this reason, its important that parents keep an eye out for mold symptoms and seek medical care if necessary.
Mold spores thrive in moist, damp environments and are often found near water. Mold can be a problem in homes when the humidity levels rise because they will concentrate on surfaces that have moisture, such as carpets or wood floors. If you find mold growing on your air conditioner vents, this is likely due to condensation from refrigerant leaking from the air conditioner and leaving a moist environment for mold to grow.
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Is Mold In Air Conditioner Units Dangerous
Before you determine whether your unit can be cleaned or should be replaced, its important to understand just how dangerous mold can be. Black mold in air conditioner units can develop for a number of reasons, and left untreated, the growth can begin to affect your familys health.
Symptoms of mold exposure:
- Vacuum cleaner with attachments
Prevention Is The Key
Prevention is always better than cure, so cleaning your vents regularly will help ensure that the problem doesnt develop in the first place, but if you do spot mold on air-conditioner vents, you must deal with it immediately.
If you have a large central unit, or you have respiratory problems, its better to call a professional AC maintenance service to deal with it. DIY mold removal is difficult, time-consuming, and potentially harmful. You have to be sure youve killed all the mold spores in the system, or youll be back to square one in a week or so.
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Ready For A Deep Clean
So now you know how to clean vents in your house! Clean air ducts and air vents greatly improve your homes air quality and allow your HVAC unit to operate more efficiently. However, this only works if the air ducts are thoroughly cleaned.
If you miss any spots or dont scratch off all mold and mildew, more dirt can quickly collect. To skip the hassle of cleaning and be sure the job is done well, consider bringing John C. Flood in to get the job done right. You can call us at 752-1266 or contact John C. Flood certified HVAC technicians online to schedule your cleaning.
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Keep The House Dry To Prevent Mold Spores
So, lets imagine youve identified a potential problem area in your home. It could be that the bathroom fan is not venting well, and the bathroom is staying moist for a long time after you shower.
Or maybe youve had some recent water damage.
In this case, you know youre creating a high-risk situation for mold growth, and getting the moisture out of the air should be your top priority. A few ways to do this might include:
- Help circulate the air using tower fans The issue might be that you have a small, moist space with little air movement, like an unvented bathroom. You can use portable fans of any kind of move the air out and help get it into equilibrium with the room its connected to. By dissipating the moisture, you can keep one area from getting too humid.
- Invest in a dehumidifer to pull moisture out of the room You may have a room in the house that is just prone to dampness, like a basement. You can focus your efforts on just this spot using a room dehumidifier, which can be found relatively inexpensive .
- Make sure any vent fans are operating correctly. You can check by taking a piece of toilet paper and holding it up to the vent while the fan is running. If it sticks thanks to the suction, then you have good flow. If not, then you should investigate further, or call a heating and cooling specialist to have a look at what might be the issue.
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How To Remove Mold From Air Ducts
Now that you understand a bit more about mold, its time to talk about removing it from your home. According to the EPA, if the moldy area is a patch around 10 square feet, you should be able to handle the problem yourself. For larger infestations, you will want to consider calling in a mold remediation company. We have some tips if you plan to call in a pro, but the steps below will help you remove small areas of mold around your HVAC system.
What Causes Mold To Grow In Air Ducts
Mold grows in ductwork when two things are present: moisture and warm temperatures. A warm, humid environment has the ideal conditions for mold to form. A humid climate along with poor ventilation, or anything that traps moisture in your walls and causes condensation, can lead to mold in air ducts.
Here are some of the HVAC problems that can contribute to these conditions and ultimately mold growth:
If your AC unit is oversized for the space you have, one of the problems that it can cause is mold in air ducts. Larger units can cool small spaces too quickly and turn off before dehumidifying the air, leading to excess moisture. This moisture can build up in your rooms and ductwork. If you see mold shortly after a new installation, check to make sure youve got the proper sized equipment for the space you have.
Setting your AC on a very low temperature can sometimes lead to mold around the vents. When the cool air from the vents meets the warm air in the room, the temperature difference can cause moisture in the air to condense on surfaces in and around the vents. If that moisture builds up and never gets a chance to dry out, it can lead to mold growth. This is called the temperature differential and usually takes about 20 degrees of difference for moisture to form. If you dont notice it for a while, the moisture can make its way into your air ducts.
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