How To Remove Mold From Hvac Ducts

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.

Do Hvac Companies Do Mold Remediation

HVAC companies are not usually licensed mold remediators. For mold removal from HVAC systems that have become infested, you will want a company that is state licensed and certified to deal with the problem.

Some people will say that you can remove the mold yourself, but this isnt advisable. There is a reason that companies must be licensed by the state to do this work it requires specialized equipment, including respirators and protection suits.

If you believe that you have mold in your HVAC system, you should call a licensed mold remediation contractor to come and check it out immediately.

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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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.

How To Remove Mold From Hvac System

When it comes to cleaning mold, there are a number of chemicals and natural cleaners that can be used, although some will be more effective than others, depending on the species and how far it has penetrated.

Removing it from air ducts deep within your home can be tricky because they can be hard to reach, so you may have to remove them from their place in order to clean them properly. But you can follow these steps in removing mold from the air vents first to prevent the majority of the mold from spreading to other areas.

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How Can I Tell If There Is Mold In My Air Ducts

There are a number of ways that you as a homeowner can tell if there is mold in your air ducts. Below we list and explain some of the top things that you will want to look-out for.

If you notice any of the above signs, it is best tocontact a professional straight away to avoid potential damages and preserve optimal functioning. Most importantly, however, it is important to get the situation checked out immediately to eliminate any potential health risks associated with mold in your air conditioner. We will talk more about the health problems that exposure from mold in air ducts can cause in our next section below.

Ive Got Mold In The Air Vents In My Home What Do I Do Now

Removing mold in air vents can be very challenging. While many still opt for using ozone, research suggests that this method is detrimental to your respiratory system and can cause just as much damage as the mold itself.

Before you do anything at all, you need to make 100% sure that the substance you believe to be black mold is in fact that. This is because the process of removing mold from air vents is not only time-consuming but very costly.

If you do have mold in your air ducts, the best thing you can do is call in the professionals. A mold remediation expert will first inspect your home and take the appropriate steps to find out where all the mold is in your home and remove it.

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Should I Replace The Vents/ductwork

Just because the vents are moldy, theres no need to replace them. As long as structural integrity remains, simple cleaning is enough. If you have a central AC system and the vents are moldy, take a look at the ductwork. Finding mold here a well is not uncommon.

If mold exists within your ductwork, theres no need to worry about replacing that either.

In fact, with a flexible mop and the cleaning solution of your choice may be enough to deal with it. You should know that if the situation is bad enough, you can call professionals in for ductwork cleaning.

Checklist For A Mold Free Home

Heres the checklist for smart homeowners to counter mold in air conditioning ducts:

• Conduct mold testing to confirm an infestation.
• Select duct cleaning methods and costs depending on the duct material type.
• Make sure that the service providers follow the National Air Duct Cleaning Association standards and EPA approved/ registered products for the process.
• Ask for client testimonials and references from service providers.
• Request regular duct inspection to prevent mold buildup.

White Mechanical, Inc.

Founded in 2002, White Mechanical, Inc. in Laguna Hills, CA, is one of the most trusted and licensed service providers, proudly serving Orange County and the surrounding communities. Our management team has more than 28 years of experience in various aspects of HVAC technology. All our HVAC technicians are professionally skilled and certified to deliver outstanding residential HVAC services as well as commercial HVAC services to our clients. We offer professional HVAC services including installation, maintenance, air conditioning repair, and more at very reasonable prices.

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Cost To Clean Mold From Air Ducts

What Are Health Symptoms Of A Mold Problem

Some individuals have increased tolerance to airborne allergens. While other individuals can potentially have a genetic predisposition to inflammation problems and other issues when there are exposed to airborne contaminants. Especially, things like mold. With some of these, the reaction can be severe and even more long-term health conditions could result.Some of the most common health symptoms associated with mold contamination in your home is coughing, wheezing, sneezing, shortness of breath, increased problems with respiratory allergies as well as sinus infections, and frequency of respiratory illnesses. This can include developing or suffering from increased problems with asthma, and even pneumonia.

With many of these symptoms, mold doesnt necessarily need to grow in a specific, visible location. If a mold problem has infested your HVAC system, certain short-term symptoms like coughing, wheezing, and sneezing may start to occur more frequently when the system is actively in use.

Your sense of sight and smell can be the first tools toward identifying the presence of HVAC mold. This might manifest as a visible mold-like substance developing around your air ducts, as well as things like the systems drip pan or intake vents in a moist area. An active mold infestation also tends to give off a distinctive odor, which is hard to confuse.

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How To Treat Black Mold In Your Air Ducts

If you suspect that you have a black mold infestation in your home, you need to call a mold remediation professional to inspect your home. The professional will take the steps to test for mold throughout your home. The inspection will verify if your home does have black mold, but if your home does not have black mold, it is also good to do because you can check to see if the mold concentration in your home is too high.

If the professional has verified the presence of black mold in your home, then they will tell you the steps to remove it. For the most thorough cleaning, the professional will have to remove the right components from the air ducts to ensure complete cleaning. The reason is to be sure that the black mold has not touched any other part of your air duct and remove the risk of cross contaminating other parts of your home.

Black mold needs to be cleaned thoroughly by a trained remediation professional because most conventional cleaning agents will not work. Remediation professionals are trained to use the most high-powered cleaning vacuums and motorized brushes to remove black mold from your home.

For example, COIT has the largest and most powerful cleaning equipment on the market we use high-efficiency particulate air vacuums and eco-friendly products to remove mold from your air ducts. Also, COIT finishes the job using air scrubbers to ensure and sustain the availability of high air quality.

Mold The Stubborn Intruder: What Is The Cause

In most cases, homeowners can most efficiently remove the mold form visible areas. However, molds spread through spores, and the presence of a small colony can lead to a re-infestation in no-time. Mold problems in HVAC systems and subsequent air ducts occur due to humidity and water accumulation in the system. Unless you find out precisely what is responsible for the growth in the first place, you might find yourself fighting a losing battle.

The DIY solutions are only suitable for minor mold problems. These are more effective for isolated cases that do not involve the entire ductwork. For example, if your master bathroom or your storage room smells musty, you can try to scrub the particular duct or vent that aerates these rooms. It is very common for some places to gather mold in the ductwork more than the others. Bathrooms are often more prone to mold infestations since there are higher humidity levels, and water almost never dries up completely. There is a high chance of recurring mold growth in the bathroom, and research shows that over 70% of toilets and showers in the urban areas have sneaky mold problems.

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Removing Mold From Air Conditioning Vents

Removing mold from A/C vents is a pretty simple process. Follow these steps to complete the task easily:

Some people may suggest cleaning the grill without removing it. We dont recommend this due to the dangers of the vents sharp metal that can easily cut your fingers when you cant fully see it.

Do Sealants Prevent The Release Of Dust And Dirt Particles Into The Air

Manufacturers of products marketed to coat and encapsulate duct surfaces claim that these sealants prevent dust and dirt particles inside air ducts from being released into the air. As with biocides, a sealant is often applied by spraying it into the operating duct system. Laboratory tests indicate that materials introduced in this manner tend not to completely coat the duct surface. Application of sealants may also affect the acoustical and fire retarding characteristics of fiber glass lined or constructed ducts and may invalidate the manufacturer’s warranty.

Questions about the safety, effectiveness and overall desirability of sealants remain. For example, little is known about the potential toxicity of these products under typical use conditions or in the event they catch fire.

In addition, sealants have yet to be evaluated for their resistance to deterioration over time which could add particles to the duct air.

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Diy Mold Removal Steps

Before you spend the time and money cleaning mold out of your ductwork, have the substance tested by a lab to determine that it is in fact mold. If you determine that it is mold, try to assess how extensive the growth may be. If it is extensive, you will probably need the help of a professional HVAC contractor to assess the extent of the problem and the best way to clean it out effectively. In some cases, the insulation around the ductwork will be infested and need replacement from an HVAC contractor.

If you believe the mold infestation has not established itself in a large area, however, you can remove it yourself and save a significant amount of money. Here are the steps you should take:

1. Find a mold removal cleaning agent and mold inhibitor. You can make your own mold cleaner by mixing one tablespoon of household detergent, 1/2 cup of baking soda, and 1 cup of water for porous surfaces. For non-porous surfaces , you can use 1 part bleach with 16 parts water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle for ease of application. Alternatively, you can purchase an EPA-approved mold killing product. Also, purchase an EPA-approved mold inhibitor to apply after the cleaning.

2. Wear protective clothing. Protect yourself from the mold killing agents you are using and the mold itself. The EPA recommends wearing an N95 mask, and you should wear rubber gloves, coveralls, and protective eyewear.

4. Choose your removal option:

6. Install new filters. Install new air filters.

After A New Construction Or Major Renovation

Construction is a messy work. No matter how clean you space is after a new construction is completed, most of the dust that was in the air during the process finds its way in to the ducts. Unless the vents and HVAC systems are properly covered throughout the construction or renovation process, be sure that the dust has made its way. The dust from construction carries horribly harmful particles that must not find their way into your respiratory system. So its best to address the matter on time and get your AC Ducts cleaned before the health problems arise.

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