If you have an HVAC system in your home or business facility then its air ducts could be infested by mold. You may not be able to see the mold hiding in your ductworks systems but you may be able to smell its musty odor in multiple adjacent rooms. In cases where the mold infestation has progressed significantly, you may even be able to see it as mold may grow around the ducts and on the exterior parts of vents.
Causes of Mold HVAC Air Ducts
Mold thrives under warm moist conditions and air ducts are notorious for the build-up of moisture and condensation because of the temperature difference between the outside air and the vent, or due to improperly sealed ducts, and lack of insulation around ducts. However, sometimes if you overly insulate your home, it can also result in condensation because the indoor area is warmer and holds more moisture. What’s more, at night when the temperature falls the air inside cools down and releases moisture, which results in condensation.
Condensation and moisture can also be caused by high levels of humidity in the outside environment, dirty air filters which do not allow proper circulation of air, and likewise clogged ducts. As the moisture builds up, and the temperatures in the ducts increase, they create the perfect environment for mold growth. Since mold is a living organism, it also needs something to feed on. The sources of nutrition for mold are plentiful since mold can thrive on dust/dirt particles, pollen, animal dander, and dead skin cells that collect inside your ducts.
Indications of Mold inside Air Ducts
If you have mold growing inside your HVAC’s air ducts you will most likely notice some particular signs. One of the most common signs of mold is the characteristic mildew/musty smell which can linger in a few adjacent rooms or even your entire house. Another sign could be allergy symptoms (e.g. stuffed up/runny nose, watery eyes, sore throat, or rushes) when you enter your home. You might also experience similar symptoms when your air conditioning is running. What’s more, you might begin to suffer from headaches, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue at home but when you leave your home these symptoms seem to disappear.
You might also notice visible signs like mold growing within the intake vents and around the air ducts and drip pans. Naturally, visible signs of mold infestation require immediate action and since it may not always be possible to reach all sections of your HVAC ductwork system, you should notify mold removal professionals like Biotek Environmental, Inc. who will inspect, evaluate and remove mold from your home.
Mold Removal and Prevention from Your HVAC System
People sometimes choose to deal with mold removal on their own by using products bought at their local DIY store or using natural household products to remove visible signs of mold. Nevertheless, the EPA recommends that mold removal be performed by professional mold removal and remediation services, especially, when your mold issue covers more the 10 square feet. This is because even when you remove visible signs of mold, it can still spread through spores which can result in a re-infestation within a few weeks.
As we have already mentioned mold issues in HVAC systems and air ducts are developed because of moisture so if you don’t deal with the moisture issues, mold will keep reappearing. That’s where professional mold removal services like Biotek Environmental, Inc. can help you by effectively combating your mold issues and applying biostatic antimicrobial coatings that permanently bond to both hard and porous surfaces which will help inhibit microbial growth by destroying the cellular wall of the organism.
Contact Biotek Environmental, Inc.
If you suspect that you have a mold issue in your HVAC system, you need to take immediate action since mold can easily spread to the rest of your home. You need to ensure that all mold is removed and the rest of your home is also tested for the presence of mold.
If you are a resident of Columbia, Greenville, and Spartanburg, SC, call BioTek Environmental Inc at 866-630-7340 24/7 – 365 days a year or contact us online. We can provide you with professional mold inspection, removal, and remediation services. Our Clean, Green Restoration methods employ EPA registered and environmentally safe chemistries to help our customers reclaim their property from mold removal, and flood and fire damage in the safest ways possible.
