Mold in air ducts is a problem no homeowner wants to face. Mold spores inside your air ducts can easily spread throughout your home when the HVAC system is in use. Worse, mold isn’t just unpleasant but may be dangerous to your health.
Knowing you have a mold problem isn’t always simple, either. Outside of the visual signs (mold in or around your air ducts or air vents) you may notice an unpleasant, musty smell when your furnace or air conditioner kicks on.
Below, we explore the risks of moldy HVAC air ducts, the signs you have a problem, and the steps your local Aire Serv® will take to help you keep your HVAC system clean.
Can Mold Get in Air Ducts?
Unfortunately, mold can infiltrate your HVAC air ducts and lead to poor indoor air quality.
Risks associated with moldy ducts include:
- Increased allergy symptoms
- Health problems such as headaches, irritated nose and throat, nausea, respiratory illness, skin rashes, and itchy eyes
- Rotten, stale, or musty odors in the home
A single mold spore can, in time, wreak havoc on your HVAC system. Once a spore finds the right, humid conditions, it can grow rapidly. This makes it vital that homeowners understand their HVAC system and have it inspected and cleaned regularly to prevent mold in air ducts.
Mold in Air Ducts: How Does It Get There?
Mold loves humidity. A prolonged relative humidity level above 60 percent in your home combined with warm air temperatures makes for ideal conditions for mold growth. A damp, humid air duct is susceptible to mold. When the furnace or air conditioning kicks on, the mold-laden air ducts can distribute mold spores throughout the home.
If your home is consistently humid, mold growth may be a problem in more than just your air ducts. Learn how a whole house dehumidifiercan help to regulate the humidity levels in your home.
How to Clean Mold Out of Duct Work
Unfortunately, by the time a moldy odor has set in, the mold infestation has grown considerably and will require professional remediation from a trusted mold specialist, like our friends at Rainbow InternationalLink opens in a new tab. To rid your ducts of dust and dirt that can contribute to mold and odor problems, we recommend having your air ducts professionally cleaned at least every three to five years.
Aire Serv is proud to offer professional air duct cleaning services for homes and businesses throughout the United States and Canada. Our standard air duct cleaning service is designed to inspect for damage and rid your air ducts of dirt, dust, dander and more.
Air Duct Cleaning: How to Clean Duct Work
Fortunately, air ducts are easy to clean with the right tools and know-how. A standard air duct cleaning will remove dust and debris from your ductwork. At Aire Serv, we use a four-step process to ensure your air ducts are cleaned thoroughly, each time.
- Inspection
Each cleaning begins with an in-depth inspection of the ductwork, HVAC system (furnace/air conditioner) in-room vents, and surrounding areas. This determines exactly which techniques will be used in the cleaning process. Service professionals pay special attention to look for evidence of rodents or insects, signs of water damage or mold in air ducts, and the presence of any dangerous materials like asbestos. - Cleaning
After inspection, your service professional will give you a full report and detail the cleaning techniques recommended. Then, your service professional will get to work using any number of the following tools:
- Brushes
- Air whips
- Skipper balls
- HEPA vacuums
- Vacuums
Brushes, whips, and skipper balls are used to dislodge dirt and debris from the air ducts. The debris is then cleared away with a high-efficiency particle air (HEPA) vacuum or a vacuum that expels particles outside of the home or building.
- Clean All Components
Throughout the cleaning process, your Aire Serv service professional will address and service various HVAC system components, including the heating and cooling coils, diffusers, grills, housings, and motors. - Quality Check
After cleaning has been completed, your service professionals will complete a final check to ensure that the unit and all components have been thoroughly cleaned and put back together and that any access holes used during the cleaning process are resealed. We’ll make sure your system is functioning properly and that no loose debris is spread throughout the home.
It’s important that property owners do not attempt to clean or remove mold from air ducts on their own, as it can be dangerous and may cause more harm than good.
Prevent Mold in Your Air Ducts with Regular HVAC Maintenance from Aire Serv
If you have mold in your ductwork, it’s crucial to find out why it’s developing so the problem can be prevented from occurring again. Your local Aire Serv can identify the root cause and stop mold from re-infiltrating your HVAC air ducts with tools like dehumidifiers.
Our service professionals are dedicated to keeping your home’s air healthy and your HVAC working its best with air duct cleaning, installation, and repair services you can rely on.
Call (855) 679-0011 now or schedule an appointment online.
Worried about mold developing in other parts of your home? Check out these tips to prevent and remove excess moistureLink opens in a new tab, from our friends at Mr. HandymanLink opens in a new tab, a fellow member of the NeighborlyLink opens in a new tab® family of trusted home service brands.