Protect Your Home From Molds
After learning how to get rid of mold and its spores, lets proceed with preventing them from coming back.
1. Identify problem areas
Mold spores are everywhere, but that does not mean you should let your home be contaminated with them. One way to prevent mold contamination from happening is to monitor the problem areas in your home.
Does your attic often get mold? Then, check your insulation or your roof for damage. Address the problems of water and moisture damage no matter how small they seem.
2. Dry the wet areas immediately
Wet areas may range from wet furniture to a flooded basement. If possible, attend to these water damages as soon as they happen to prevent mold from growing.
How To Fix Mold In Air Conditioning Ducts
Indoor air quality has an enormous impact on our health and the comfort of our homes, and one of its biggest corruptors is mould. Apart from being unsightly, it releases spores into the air we breathe, which can aggravate those with allergies, asthma, and weakened immune systems.
Unfortunately, mould is unavoidable in air conditioners, because where there is moisture, there is an opportunity for bacteria and mould to grow. So what causes mold in air conditioning ducts? How do you fix it, and when should you call in the professionals?
Why Is It Important To Clean Mould
While a bad smell and a bit of coughing and sneezing might not sound like the worst thing in the world, its very important to clean mould from air conditioner vents.
Those early symptoms can get worse over time, and other health issues such as fatigue, headaches, wheezing and shortness of breath can occur. Both healthy people and those with pre-existing conditions are at risk, breathing in the cool air as it is fanned into the room.
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Six: Throw The Rags Away
Once you are done cleaning the mold, dispose of the rags safely. Place them in an air-tight trash bag and throw them in the outdoor bin.
Dont make the mistake of dropping the rags on the floor after cleaning. This will deposit some of the spores on the ground, and thats a problem.
The spores may be dead, but research has shown that dead mold is just as dangerous as living mold.
Make sure you have the air-tight trash bags beside you as you wipe the ducts with the rag. This will make disposal faster.
Thats it, youre done!
youve successfully cleaned off the visible mold from your AC ducts.
Remember to call a professional mold cleaning service for mold infestation around inaccessible areas of the duct.
Insulate All Air Ducts In Unconditioned Spaces
If you have an older home that has uninsulated air ducts in rooms without air conditioned air such as in the attic or in a crawlspace, then due to the temperature differences, these sections of air ducts may be contributing a significant amount of moisture into the air.
It would be a good idea to insulate these air ducts to prevent excessive moisture buildup which may be contributing to mold growth.
I once inspected a garage that had an uninsulated duct going through a garage ceiling. A significant amount of moisture condensed in the ceiling and led to the entire garage getting covered in mold.
A Defective Whole House Humidifier
Many homes have whole house humidifiers, which are great products that will add needed moisture into the air during the cold weather months. However, if you have never cleaned the evaporator panel, or if the unit isnt working properly, then whole house humidifiers can contribute a large amount of moisture into your furnace or air duct system which can lead to mold growth.
Always change the evaporator panel or pad every year before usage and make sure that it is draining properly and not adding too much moisture into the air. You can read my full guide on how whole house humidifiers can lead to moldissues here.
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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:
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What Shouldnt I Use To Clean My Air Conditioner
Bleach and anti-mould sprays contain a toxic cocktail of chemicals, which will eventually find their way into your unit, become airborne and then be inhaled, so these should be avoided. Other chemical cleaners can be corrosive or caustic and can cause long-term damage to the internal components of your air conditioner. This will leave your unit vulnerable to breakdowns and may mean your warranty is voided.
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Facts About Mold In Air Ducts Every Georgia Homeowner Should Know
You wake up in the morning with a bizarre headache, sore throat, runny nose and watery eyes. While rolling out of bed, you experience dizziness and lay back down. This isnt a regular cold or the flu because you feel better when you are out of the house or at work, but the moment you return to your Georgia home and crank on the central air system, these health problems begin all over again. As you lay in bed waiting for the room to stop spinning, your eyes notice black spots along the air duct vent. Could the problem be black mold in the HVAC system?
As anair duct cleaning company,Dynasty Ductshas fielded questions from homeowners who are worried about mold impacting their homes air quality and their health. Let us provide you with answers to the most common questions about mold in air ducts and how to deal with the problem.
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Use The Vacuum To Clean Up Dirt
Most vacuum cleaners come with attachments that allow you to clean hard-to-reach places. Use the attachment to clean up as much debris and dirt as you can. You may need to rotate the unit to reach certain components that are prone to dust build-up. You want to make sure you clean the evaporator coil and blower motor. This will make wiping down the unit to clean off the mold much simpler.
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How To Prevent Mold Problems In Your Hvac System
Here are some mold prevention measures that you can employ to eliminate recurring mold problems:
- Replace the filters of the HVAC system.
- Insulate the air ducts to reduce the condensation rate within them.
- Clean the drip pans frequently.
- Keep the whole duct system dry and perform frequent checks for signs of moisture.
- Use dehumidifier.
Also Read 10 Common Air Conditioning Problems You Should Know About
How To Get Rid Of Mold In Air Ducts
Here are our proven steps on how to get rid of mold in air ducts.
- Stop the HVAC unit. Dont run the HVAC system if you know or suspect that mold is growing in your AC ducts. Doing so prevents mold from spreading even more throughout your home.
- Examine the air duct type. Find out what your ductwork is: fiberglass, flex duct, or metal sheet. Depending on the duct material type, different cleaning methods and charges apply. Removing mold from bare sheet metal is much easier. However, if your ducts are made of fiberglass or insulated internally with fiberglass duct liner, they cant be effectively cleaned and should be replaced.
- Hire a mold removal company. Removing mold from your sheet metal ducts is challenging, time-consuming, and dangerous. The cleaning must be done safely and correctly using specialized tools and cleaners to prevent mold from growing back. A professional mold removal company like PuroClean can also address the causes which allowed mold to grow in the first place.
- Know who you hire. The National Air Duct Cleaning Association regulates air duct cleaning services. Professional air duct cleaning involves using Environmental Protection Agency -approved products and processes for effective mold removal. In addition, steam cleaning and other methods involving moisture should not be used on any kind of ductwork. So make sure the company you hire adheres to NADCA standards and uses the recommended tools and products.
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How Does Mould Grow
Mould grows wherever there is sufficient humidity in the air, a water source nearby, or moisture present in an environment with limited sunlight. It can be present in homes where there is water damage, leaks, or water source issues, including:
- Areas with poor circulation
- A lack of ventilation in wet areas like bathrooms and laundries
If a property has a water leak, you are likely to see mould growth at the source of the leak. If the cause is not due to a water leak, mould may grow as patterns on the ceiling, or along external walls. This is due to temperature differences on surfaces, and high humidity levels that produce condensation.
Keeping An Eye On Problem Areas:
Finally, mold eradication is useless if you only do it once and then forget about it. In as little as 48 hours, Mold can start to form. So, pay attention to the problem areas. You may have a moisture problem if mold spores reappear. To get your HVAC systems mold problem under control. Consider insulating your ductwork. Thus, use a dehumidifier or contact an HVAC professional.
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How To Stop Mold From Growing On Air Ducts
Sometimes home remedies are not enough to stop growing mold on your air ducts. The following precautions can work well if you want to stop growing mold in your air ducts-
- You should replace the HVAC system filters.
- Donât forget to clean the drip pans regularly. However, the collection of water in the drip pan can help molds to regrow. Therefore, you clean them regularly.
- You should seal condensation and leaks. Make sure to keep the entire duct system dry. You need to be careful while approving the use of sealants. The EPA generally does not recommend using sealants except for situations where other alternatives are unviable.
- You should invest in a quality dehumidifier and turn it on near the moldy areas. This will help in the faster evaporation of water from the ductwork and prevent further growth of molds.
- You should check the ducts regularly. If possible, get a professional to inspect your HVAC system to see any growth of mold.
Proactive Measures Are Better Than Reactive Measures
Its always better to stop a problem before it starts. Because mold can be harmful to your health, or others who enter your home, this is especially true. If you are cleaning the mold yourself, use of an inhibiter once the vents are clean will help prevent mold from reappearing.
Because moisture breeds mold, dealing with humidity is another proactive step to take.
A dehumidifier is especially helpful when you live in a humid region. Be mindful that an AC system reduces humidity by nature, and using a dehumidifier may only be needed during times when the AC is not in use.
Concluding Thoughts
Mold is scary, but you can handle it yourself. Just remember to make sure to protect yourself when cleaning. If mold is growing on your vents, there is cause to check other parts of the HVAC system.
Drip pans drain and any other parts of the system where moisture is present is where mold will grow. Again, theres no need to panic just apply a few simple cleaning methods.
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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.
When Should I Call In The Professionals
All air conditioning units should be maintained regularly, and although you can do some maintenance yourself, its vital you have your unit professionally serviced at least every 12 months. The best time to schedule this is after winter when humidity and temperatures start to rise again.
A professional technician has the equipment and experience to repair or upgrade your system to keep it running efficiently, and address any issues before they become larger problems. When it comes to detecting and eliminating mould in air conditioning units, they will also have the working knowledge of the anatomy of your particular unit.
Many of the components of your air conditioner where mould may form are also in areas that should never be accessed by anyone other than a trained and licensed specialist because of the risk of injury or electrocution.
References
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How Can I Prevent It
Prevention of mold growth is definitely something that can be done by homeowners. How to remove mold from air conditioner ducts is not a simple task. You might not be perfect in your attempts, but you can certainly minimize any chances of mold taking over your home. Here are some ways that you can prevent mold growth in your home:
How To Prevent Mold In Window Air Conditioner
If youve ever found mold in your window air conditioner before, chances are youre adamant about preventing it from ever happening again. But what exactly do you do to prevent mold growth? The answer is crystal clear.
There are several steps one can take to prevent mold growth in a window air conditioner, including:
- Turning on the ACs humidity control setting
- Keeping the AC unit on
- Keeping the unit free of dust
- Deep cleaning the AC unit periodically
- Using white vinegar spray
Moldy air conditioner units are common, but this doesnt have to be the case. Keep reading if you want to learn more about how to prevent mold in your window air conditioner, helpful information about mold, and more!
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What Issues Arise From Mould In Ducted Air Conditioning
Moulds are a microscopic fungus, but not all of them are the samethere are good and bad moulds. For example, good moulds give cheeses like brie and camembert their distinctive texture and flavour, and the drug penicillin is derived from a type of mould.
But when it comes to air conditioners, the mould that might be present isnt useful or friendly, and is likely to cause you more harm than good. Mould reproduces through mould spores, which become airborne and spread throughout your homeon your clothes, on your food and on you and will be ingested via eating or breathing. Some of the issues resulting from mold in air conditioning ducts include:
What Causes Mould In Air Conditioning Units
All sites of mould growth share one thing in commonmoistureand there is no better location for airborne mould spores than in air conditioners. Because units operate by circulating air from outside your property, the air isnt purified and is packed with airborne mould spores and bacteria. When your unit is turned off, the interior warms up, and any residual condensation and moisture within the unit and its ducting creates the ideal conditions for mould to thrive.
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Mold In Air Ducts Health Problems
Severe mold in your air ducts can lead to a number of health problems. The symptoms may differ from individual to individual, and they may also be affected by the period of inhalation or contact as well as the volume of spores breathed.
Mold-related health issues may include:
Eyes that are itchy or uncomfortable
Persistent sneezing and coughing
Diarrhea
