Mold Removal Safety Tips
You wont know the full extent of the mold growth in your unit unless you remove it from the window. Grab some help to safely remove the AC and place it in a sturdy spot for cleaning, like the garage or outdoor work bench. Its best to remove the mold from air conditioner parts outdoors so you have plenty of fresh air to combat the mold and any fumes from the cleaner.
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.
How Do I Prevent Mold From Growing In My Air Conditioner
Controlling moisture is the key to preventing mold in air conditioners. Unfortunately, air conditioners can also be a source of moisture. Here are some steps you can take to control moisture when using an air conditioner.
Mold growing in an AC unit or in your homes HVAC system is a serious problem, because it allows mold spores to be spread throughout the house. Cleaning up an HVAC mold problem is a difficult and possibly expensive task. The best way to deal with mold in an air conditioner is to control moisture and prevent it from happening at all.
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Why You Need A Professional To Remove Mold
Hiring a professional to clean may seem like an unnecessary expense, but technicians can take care of mold and help prevent it from coming back more effectively and safely than you can do yourself.
First of all, scrubbing mold with ordinary cleaners wont make it go away. Regular cleaning products will leave behind enough mold for it to easily grow back. Professionals have the proper equipment to protect themselves and your home or business from not only the mold, but the chemicals they use to clean it.
You could also accidentally damage your HVAC system if you try to clean mold in air ducts yourself. Professionals know what to look for and how to treat your AC with care. Professional ductwork cleaners have HVAC training, so theyll be familiar with your system and know how to clean it without damaging it. They also use the correct mold growth inhibitor products to prevent it from coming back, and they know how to properly dispose of tools to prevent contaminating other areas.
Learn more about professional duct cleaning services:
Cleaning Using Household Products
If youve noticed that mold is growing in your ducts, you can use a variety of household cleaning products to get it cleaned off. Mixing either detergent or bleach with water is powerful enough to kill mold. When youre getting ready to address an area of mold in your home, its important to put on protective gear. The cleaning chemicals can cause harm to your skin or eyes, and inhaling the mold spores is dangerous. Wearing rubber gloves, a face mask, and eye protection are all recommended for safety.
To clean the mold, apply the cleaner and scrub with a rag until it has all been removed. When youre finished with a job, dispose of all of the used rags. Be sure to pay close attention to the area after the cleaning to make sure mold doesnt start to grow there again.
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How Do You Clean Mold From Air Conditioner Ducts
Cleaning mold from your central air conditioner ducts is a bit more finicky than removing it from a window unit. You should contact a professional who can properly look at your ducts, particularly if the mold has spread through an area greater than 10 square feet. Theyll need to actually remove the affected portion of your ducts and give it a good scrubbing.
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.
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How Can I Remove Mold From Air Conditioner Duct And Ceiling
Mold on ceilings is usually visible and can be removed easily. You can remove mold on your ceiling with vinegar or bleach.
Most Houston, TX residents who have had to remove mold from their ceilings themselves prefer to use vinegar over bleach because it is 100% natural and safe.
Removing mold from your ceiling with vinegar would involve the use of a ladder, spray bottle, white distilled vinegar, scrubbing brush, plain water, and clean cloths.
To go about mold removal from the ceiling with vinegar, do the following:
- Pour the vinegar into the dry spray bottle and spray a good amount to the areas infested by mold. Allow it to sit for an hour.
- Using a clean cloth soaked in plain water to wipe away the mold from the walls and ceilings. You can also use a scrubbing brush with firm bristles for hardened fungus and stains.
- Use a dry, absorbent cloth to soak up moisture by dabbing or pressing against the cleaned areas. Keep the windows in the house open to dry the area quicker and allow the vinegar smell to go out.
- Spray ceiling corners and other areas where mold is likely to grow once or twice a week using the same vinegar in the bottle to help prevent mold growth.
Removing mold from the air conditioner ducts in your Houston, TX house isnt as easy as removing it from the ceiling. You would surely need the assistance of a professional mold remediation company near you to do the job.
Signs Of Mold In & Around Your Ac Venting
There are various signs of mold in and around the AC venting, including odor, visible mold, mildew, and allergy reactions.
Musty Odors
Mold smell coming from AC vents is usually the first sign one experiences. The trapped moisture becomes stale in a poorly ventilated home, and soon there will be a persistent foul odor, especially if the AC is running.
Usually, the musty smell becomes quite strong near the AC unit. If the mold stays there for long, the whole house will soon be in havoc. I recommend you call for professional help the first day you smell this musty odor to prevent mold from spreading further.
Visible Mold & Mildew
Sometimes, mold and mildew in vents and around the air ducts become so big that one can easily spot them. This formation happens after the AC condenser coils extract moisture from the warm air, settling in and around the AC vents.
Allergy-like Symptoms
Here is another obvious sign of mold growing in and around the AC vents. The biggest side effect of being exposed to mold is feeling sickly. Whoever breathes in tiny mold spores will most likely suffer from allergy-like symptoms.
Homeowners might experience headaches, nasal congestion, nausea, itchy eyes, irritated throat, and skin rashes.
With such illnesses, I highly recommend stopping using the AC unit until the mold is cleaned out. Prolonged exposure to mold spores can make the situation even worse.
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How To Prevent Mold Problems
If you are sufficiently afraid of mold at this point, you may be wondering: how can I prevent mold? Good question. Humans have been dealing with mold as long as weve been living indoors even further back if you count cheesemaking and other moldy endeavors.
The one thing we have gleaned from years of battling stubborn molds is that if you control moisture, you control mold. Therefore, moisture control should be your strategy to prevent nasty mold infestations.
Here are some tips to help you prevent mold growth in your HVAC system:
- Replace your HVAC filters regularly
- Insulate air ducts to help reduce condensation
- Check and clean your condensate/drip pans
- If you find leaks, handle them promptly to prevent moisture build-up
The above steps are the low-hanging fruit of mold control. They cost next to nothing and can have some significant effects. If you are in a humid environment, or mold issues are common in your home, you can enlist a little extra help.
The first thing you might want to try is a dehumidifier. Placing dehumidifiers in key areas in your home can help pull moisture from your ducts and other HVAC components.
Another tactic you should employ is to hire heating and AC repair specialists. Cardinal Plumbing, Cooling and Heating offers duct cleaning services that can help stop mold growth before a serious infestation occurs.
What Causes Mold Problems In Hvac Systems
Mold spores are prevalent in the air. If you were able to shrink down to the microscopic level, youd see the atmosphere filled with spores of all kinds. To the naked eye, spores are invisible. If they happen to land on a nice moist spot in your home, then the real growth starts.
Mold can be dangerous, so you need to take its growth seriously. Some molds can cause nasty health side effects. Other molds may not be noticeable.
People who are sensitive to molds, have asthma or other respiratory issues are the most likely to experience adverse health effects. If you or someone in your home fits this description, its imperative to keep a watchful eye on your HVAC system for any signs of mold growth.
When it comes to air conditioners, mold tends to be a fairly common problem. Dealing with and preventing mold is a part of proper air quality control. Understanding what causes mold growth and how to handle it when it pops up is essential to keeping your homes air clean.
You should be aware of a few problem areas when mold issues start to bother your HVAC system.
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Causes Of Mold In Your Heating And Air Conditioning System
The two major causes of mold in your air conditioning system are condensation and organic material. Condensation occurs when parts of your air conditioning system get cold, especially when the surrounding air in the room is warm and humid. For example, if your basement tends to be humid and the air ducts get cold while the air is blowing, the water vapor in the room can begin to condense on the air duct, creating a small amount of water. If the humidity is low enough, the water will quickly evaporate once the a/c turns off. If the humidity is too high, then the water will persist and thats when you begin to have a mold problem.
Air conditioning systems tend to collect dust, both in the unit itself and within the air ducts. Dust contains all kinds of organic material, such as pollen and dead skin cells, which is essentially food for mold. Combined with a damp environment, this creates a great place for mold to grow.
Diy Remediation For Mold In Hvac Systems
Personal protection equipment, or PPE, is the essential first step for the do-it-yourself individual. Gloves, safety goggles, and a N-95 rated mask are required to ensure your personal safety while remediating mold.
Once again, make sure the system is shut down. Turn off the appropriate circuit breaker to ensure that the furnace or air conditioning unit will not come on. Remove any furnace filters, bag them up, seal the bags closed, and dispose of them. Next, choose a cleaning solution containing baking soda, borax, or household detergent and mix it appropriately with water. . Fill a spray bottle with the solution.
Using a HEPA vacuum, remove as much visible mold as possible. Then generously apply your cleaning solution on the moldy areas using the spray bottle and allow the solution to dwell for several minutes. Using towels that can be thrown away, wipe the areas where you saw the mold. Then repeat vacuuming with the HEPA vac. Sometimes you may need to repeat this entire process, especially if there was a lot of mold present. Dont forget to bag the dirty towels before removing them to a trash receptacle.
Lastly, apply a mold inhibitor to control mold growth inside your HVAC system. Make sure that you use only EPA registered products that are intended for use on heating and cooling systems. Keep in mind that mold can grow in as little as 48 hours, so after a couple of days you should re-inspect your system.
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Setting Ac Temperature At Too Low
If the air conditioning at your home is set at a very low temperature in order to conserve energy, condensation can form, particularly around ventilation ducts that are close to exterior walls. This moisture should dry out if left alone. But when this does not happen for an extended period of time, mold growth may ensue. To avoid this outcome:
- Turn the AC up to a more comfortable temperature
- Increase airflow with open windows or fans
- Position your outdoor condenser unit away from exterior walls, fences, and other objects that could trap moisture
Though rare, the moisture problem can apply not only to cases where there are no leaks in your ducts but also to conditions where your HVAC ducts have leaks and allow warm air into them. In this case, you will need extensive duct cleaning with mold remediation and should seal up any existing leaks on the airways themselves.
Mold In Your Air Conditioner Is Very Prevalent In Homes But Diagnosing It And Determining If Its Harmful Can Only Be Done By Experts
Its common to find mold in your air conditioner or furnace. Your furnace and evaporator coil have all the components necessary for things like mold to develop. Primarily because theres consistent moisture. Even if you have your furnace and air conditioner maintained every year, the process of heating and cooling your home necessarily creates condensation that doesnt completely go away.
Couple that with the areas of moisture being hard to reach, and you have an environment where mold can and does develop.
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Signs Of Mold Inyour Hvac Or Ductwork
- Strong smell or musty odor which is more pronounced with your air conditioner is running
- Visible mold around air ducts or intake vents
- Noticeable leaks or puddles around HVAC system
- Blocked drip pan
Because the signs of mold are not always easy to spot, it is important to know when you need to bring in a certified mold inspector to conduct additional mold testing. Basically, if you think there might be a mold issue but you cannot confirm it with a visual, call the pros.
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:
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What Causes Mold To Form In Air Conditioners
Mold in air conditioning units is mostly the result of not cleaning the system or having regular maintenance done on it. Over time, your ac unit will collect a large amount of dust and dirt from inside and outside your home, which mold can feed on.
Therefore, cleaning and having yearly HVAC maintenance done pays off in the long run because mold deteriorates and destroys the surfaces it grows on. If it finds its way onto vital components within the system such as styrofoam and coils, it will not function correctly and eventually cease to work while causing health problems for the house occupants.
Leakages within the ac unit are another cause, which is usually the result of an incorrectly installed system or due to a lack of maintenance. The water which accumulates attracts more dust than usual, and both the water and dust fuel mold growth within the air conditioner.
The final cause of mold in the ac unit is from not running it regularly. If it stands unused for extended periods , mold spores will get a chance to develop into mold. Its recommended to run your ac unit each day for a few minutes to clear out the vents. That way, when summer comes around, you wont have any nasty surprises.
