How To Get Rid Of Black Mold In Air Ducts

Change Ac Filters Regularly

Regularly changing your filters is one of the most important steps you can take to prevent dust and dirt from clogging your air vents. When debris is allowed to build up in your air vents, this promotes the accumulation of spores.

Wondering when and how to change your central air conditioner filter? Depending on the type of filter you have and the size of your family, you should change your air filters every 30 to 60 days. If you have a pet, you should change your filters more frequently. Most systems are very straightforward. You can simply remove the filter cover, take out the dirty filter, get the new filter out of its packaging and place it inside.

Benefits Of Getting Air Duct Cleaning Services

So, whats the deal with professional air duct cleaning services? Why do so many experts recommend them and why do some many homeowners get them? Some of the benefits of getting your air ducts cleaned include:

• Being able to improve the overall air quality within your home. This is particularly important for those who may suffer from respiratory conditions and diseases.
• Reducing asthma and allergy symptoms. As professional air duct cleaning services will get rid of dust, dirt and allergens, youll have an easier time breathing.
• Removing tiny air pollutants and mold that are too small to see. Air duct cleaning services are very thorough. This is great news for most homeowners because it means that itll get rid of one important microbe mold. Mold spores are not visible to the human eye, so you never know how much mold may actually be in the air. Professional air duct cleaning services will make sure that all of these unwanted microbes are gone from your home.
• Improving the overall efficiency of your HVAC system. Dirty HVAC systems can really get bogged down. By cleaning your air ducts, you may find yourself with a lower energy bill as your HVAC systems become a lot more efficient.

Mold In Air Vents: Symptoms To Watch For

Black mold in your air vents can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms and health problems. The symptoms may vary from person to person, and can also depend on the length of exposure and the amount of spores inhaled.

Common symptoms and health problems caused by black mold may include:

• Itchy, irritated eyes
• Nausea
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea

If you suspect that you or someone in your household has been exposed to black mold, its crucial to take swift action to protect your health and remove contamination. Consult a professional to have the mold removed in a safe, effective way and make sure to also consult an AC pro to prevent a future infestation.

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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.

Effective Tips To Get Rid Of Mold From Air Duct

• Post category:Air Duct Cleaning

Nowadays black mold is increasing in numbers and they could be poisonous, they can be seen in any area that provides eatables. Humid and stale surroundings give this fungus the food they need to thrive and expand. Including inside walls and inside vents. When you spot black mold in air duct cleaning, then vents out is the first step, but you will also need to rid of mold from air duct completely.

For your information, not all black mold is dangerous, there are various types of fungi. To tell if black mold may be growing in your home is threatening, just follow your nose. Black mold gives out a musty, earthy smell, like dirt and rotting leaves. That is an indicating sign of molds presence because Black mold smells very strong. All mold requires water and a dark, stagnant surrounding with a temperature that is normal.

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How To Prevent Mold In Future

Once youve taken care of the mold in air ducts, its important to make sure it doesnt happen again. Getting an HVAC preventative maintenance plan is a great way to keep an eye on the mold and keep your HVAC system healthy. It can help prevent the causes of mold by making sure there are no issues that can cause moisture leaks. Regular maintenance prevents breakdowns and keeps your cooling running smoothly.

Another thing you can do to take care of your HVAC is consider a periodic duct cleaning service. Duct cleaning is usually not included in routine preventative maintenance. Youll definitely need duct cleaning after discovering mold in air ducts, but also consider getting a regularly scheduled cleaning, especially if you live in a humid climate or have trouble with mold that keeps coming back.

You can also consider installing UV light and/or Ionization air purifiers that can kill mold as well as other particles such as viruses and bacteria. Passive systems can effectively destroy particles on surfaces in your HVAC system , while active systems can also destroy airborne contaminants, including odors and VOCs.

If you have issues with mold after taking these steps, its time to look into an underlying cause of humidity in your home or business, which may be accumulating outside your HVAC system:

How To Detect Mold In Air Ducts

There are few signs and symptoms that can help you to detect the attendance of mold in Air Ducts. In addition to discovering the mold, you need to look for the following signs and symptoms:

You can suspect a mold infestation within the central air conditioning system when you experience some of these signs. When you suspect the mold infestation, you should immediately ask for professional help.

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Next Steps Of How To Get Rid Of Mold In Air Ducts:

Once you have finished cleaning the visible mold, it is time to make sure that it never comes back! You need to look for EPA registered mold growth inhibitors for this process. These can successfully prevent mold from growing again after the clean-up. Without the application of inhibitors, the fungus is most likely to come back in the same area within a few weeks.

It sounds like a time-consuming task when it comes to the process of how to get rid of mold in air ducts and it surely is. You should be especially careful to dry the area after the cleaning. It is also a process that involves high health risks. Experts will always recommend that you leave the task of how to get rid of mold in air ducts to professionals who have the right equipment to ensure maximum safety to you and your family during the process.

Detergent And Baking Soda

Similar to our laundry detergent method, this is a little more heavy-duty because of the added baking soda. All you need is one tablespoon of laundry or dish detergent, half a tablespoon of baking soda and one cup of water. Increase these ratios as needed.

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Why Should You Consider Removing Mold From Your Hvac System And Air Ducts

Having fungus in the corner of a damp room is entirely different from mold growing inside the HVAC system. When mold grows within the central heating, cooling, and ventilation system, there are high chances that every room connected to the vents receives generous amounts of mold spores. As soon as you switch your heater or air conditioner on, the microscopic particles start floating and blowing out with air into the room.

Mold is not just icky or gross. It elicits allergic reactions in most people. It can lead to unwarranted asthma attacks in children and the elderly. The effects are usually immediate. However, there are records of people suffering from rashes, inexplicable breathing troubles and irritation in the eyes. The adverse impacts on health are so expansive that experts are still carrying out studies to find out the various effects of mold on human health.

Aside from allergies, molds can cause several unexplainable reactions in humans and their pets. Almost all of them are the results of inhaling mold and spores. Additionally, duct cleaning reduces the amount of floating dust, skin cells and animal dander in the indoor air. It automatically results in fewer allergies. An HVAC company that can offer mold removal and duct cleaning services can give your home healthier air that is free from strange musty smells, harmful spores, and persistent allergens.

Indoor air quality the key to a healthy life!

How To Clean Black Mold On Air Conditioner Vents

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• Can Mold Get Into Central Heat & Air Units?

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.

Things You Will Need

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The Importance Of Removing Mold From Air Ducts

The importance of removing mold from the air ducts is enormous. Molds are generally the cause of the different types of health problems, such as headaches, nausea, and fatigue. Molds also create a terrible smell in your living room. Your roomâs air may not be too friendly than outside if you see molds grow in your air ducts. Ideally, to keep yourself safe from different health problems, you should give extra care to remove mold from your air ducts.

Turn Off Your System And Vacuum The Mold

Now that you have protected yourself and prepared your cleaning solution, you need to apply it to your vents. You can even let it sit for a couple of minutes to make the scrubbing away part of this job that little bit easier.

Make sure that you scrub off all the mold and use a towel that can be disposed of to wash away any leftover mold and solution.

Once you have cleaned the area, vacuum your vents as well. Repeat this process as many times as necessary until all the mold is gone.

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Mold In Air Ducts And Its Signs

Black mold everywhere, even in air ducts, is the most visible among the other types of mold. How do we notice the signs, so we can do something more and faster about it?

Some types of mildew and mold can be seen because of their discoloration and smell. If your nose is sensitive, you will smell it right away. It is musty and earthy, like a mixture of rotting leaves and dirt.

In some cases, the mold does not leave any specific odour. This is why you are often late to find out until you get sick for no clear reasons. Before you start sneezing or coughing, but you have no idea why, check out the air conditioning ducts. If there is a slight change in the colour of the ACs ducts, then perhaps the colony of mold has already invested that area.

Of course, once you have discovered the signs of the black mold in air ducts, then it is time to do some seriously major cleaning up. Because if you do not, then be ready for the side effects of black mold in air ducts.

Kill Black Mold In Airconditioning Vents Using A Ozone Machine

If you are using an ozone machine to kill mold, you will also want to plan on leaving the home since the ozone can cause respiratory distress. Removing the mold from the vents is important, however, since the long term effects of mold exposure can be dangerous, especially for infants, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

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Keeping An Eye Out For Mold

The smallest colony of mold can lead to a re-infestation, and it could move outside the ductwork and into another area of your home. Wherever you find water accumulation and humidity, you are looking at a place that can easily become compromised. Unless you stop the source of moisture by sealing off leaks, making repairs, or running a dehumidifier, you may be looking at scrubbing new vents, flooring, walls, or ducts in the future. To rid your life of a mold problem, contact the team at Mold Remediation We have years of experience and deep knowledge of mold growth and removal to make sure your home is safe and free of harmful mold spores.

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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How Can I Prevent Mold From Colonizing

The best way to control indoor mold is to remove its source. Mold is most likely to grow in homes that are damp, have high humidity levels due to daily activities such as showering and cooking, or have cold surfaces onto which moisture can condense. A humid bathroom or a damp basement is effectively a microclimate. First on your list of preventive measures is to clean hard surfaces regularly with bleach-based products that effectively kill mold.

Signs Of Black Mold In Air Vents

In addition to the health symptoms, there are other signs that AC ducts have become infested. Are you experiencing any of the following signs in your home? You might have black mold in air ducts.

• A strong moldy or musty smell in the house. It could be stronger in certain rooms. Also, you could notice the smell more when you turn on the AC.
• You can visibly see mold growing in air vents, ducts, or drip pans. Where this is some, there is probably more.

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