The only thing worse than a mold infestation in your home is
one that you do not know about. Mold loves to hide in dark, damp places, which
coincidentally makes your ductwork a good candidate for a mold colony.
Fortunately, your ducts will often warn you if mold has set up camp so you can
take action before mold growth gets out of hand. Discover four warning signs of
mold in your air ducts to look out for.
1. A Musty Odor During HVAC Use
Any contaminants present in your air ducts can circulate
when you use your air conditioner or furnace. In the case of mold, air moving
through your ducts can pick up mold spores. This often results in a musty odor
noticeable throughout every room in your home when your HVAC system runs.
Mold in your ducts often originates on the evaporator coils
or the drain pan that collects water beneath them. If the smell from your vents
is too strong to tolerate until you can schedule a professional duct cleaning,
you may be able to reduce the smell by cleaning these components with a
commercial cleaner or diluted bleach.
2. Visible Mold Around Vent Registers
Sometimes, mold in your air ducts will reveal itself with a
very obvious sign: mold growth around your vent registers. This occurs when
mold spores from deeper in your ductwork land on the vent register and spread
to the area around it.
Just as you can clean the coils and drain pan with diluted
bleach, you can scrub your vent registers with a bleach solution to eliminate
mold. If you have children or pets, consider mold on any vent registers near
the floor to be an urgent issue. This is because some species of mold are
toxic, such as black mold.
3. Unexplained Illness at Home
People allergic to mold are at greatest risk from airborne
mold spores indoors, but anyone can be affected if spores are present in high
enough concentration. Symptoms of mold exposure usually start with mild cold
symptoms like coughing, sneezing, and irritation of the throat and sinuses.
Long-term or acute exposure poses a risk of illnesses such as pneumonia and
bronchitis.
While sinus and respiratory symptoms can have several
different causes, the biggest clue that your symptoms are mold-related is when
they are worse at home, but leaving home brings you relief. If you notice this
pattern, consider calling a duct cleaning professional to restore your home to
a comfortable and breathable state.
4. Moisture From Vent Registers
Even if you have no obvious signs of mold in your ducts,
take note if you have any unexplained moisture coming from your vents. This
includes moisture spraying or misting from your vents as well as condensation
on and around the vent register. While moisture does not always mean that mold
is already present, you should determine the source and solve the problem
before mold can take root.
Frozen evaporator coils or a clogged drain pan are common
culprits behind excess moisture in air ducts. Other possible causes include leaky
ducts or inadequate duct insulation. A duct cleaning professional can inspect
the ductwork behind your walls to ensure that the entire system is in good
health.
Mold in your air ducts is not a problem you can ignore, but
it is one you can easily solve once you have identified it. If you suspect
mold, leaks, or other problems in your ductwork, call C J Services, Inc.
, so we can help
you get the most out of your heating and air conditioning. We look forward to
helping you.
