As a homeowner you have a lot of responsibilities and keeping a perfect house isn’t easy. One thing that may slip your mind is your HVAC system. Just like anything else in your home if you don’t maintain your HVAC system, problems may arise. One of the most common problems/complaints is having mold in your HVAC ducts.
Mold is easy to miss because it can grow and reproduce easily. Mold in your HVAC system can cause you and your family to be sick and will decrease your indoor air quality. The EPA recommends checking your HVAC ducts for mold and moisture regularly. If there is moisture back up in your ducts or other parts of your HVAC system it will be easy for mold to begin growing. Let’s discuss how you can get rid of mold and what you can do to prevent it.
How to Get Rid of Mold in your HVAC Ducts
Mold is a pesky, but common issue that occurs in HVAC systems. When moisture gets trapped in the system it can cause mold to grow, it can take as little as 48 hours for this process to begin. If you’ve found mold in your system, the best option is to contact an HVAC professional to come out and help you clean the system. However, here are some general steps to follow in order to remove the mold.
- Make sure your HVAC system is turned off before beginning the cleaning process.
- You should protect yourself by wearing a mask, this will keep the small airborne particles from entering your respiratory system.
- Throw out any air filters or insulation that are moist. If these remain in the system the moisture will allow mold to grow again.
- With a wet rag clear the system of any visible signs of moisture
- You can seal off any specific areas of the ductwork that have been affected, this will keep from any mold spores spreading during the cleaning process.
- Clean non-porous parts of the system (ducts, coils, pans, etc.) with EPA registered disinfectant, you can find more information on this here.
How to Prevent the Mold from Coming Back
If you’ve mold in your HVAC ducts use the instructions above to guide you through the cleaning process. Once you’ve done that, you may want to consider taking some precautions to keep the mold from coming back. Here are some ways to keep your HVAC system clean and functioning effectively.
- Consider purchasing mold reducing air filters.
- Consider installing UV lighting in your HVAC system to kill any mold that may grow. To learn more about UV light and why it’s a good idea check out our blog.
- Change your air filters frequently
- Check air intakes, this is where containments such as mold may be brought into your system.
- Inspect and clean your drain pans regularly
If you find that your HVAC system has mold and you liked help removing it give us a call. If you like to take preventative measures such as installing a UV lighting system contact us. No matter what your HVAC needs are, AC Masters is here to help you. Our trained technicians are ready to do whatever it takes to keep your HVAC system running smoothly. Call us now (757) 898-2894.