SIGNS OF MOLD IN AIR VENTS – 10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

SIGNS OF MOLD IN AIR VENTS –

HOW DOES MOLD GROW IN AIR VENTS?

One of the main reasons your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system gets dirty in the first place is through neglect. Forgetting to change air filters, using poor filters, having gaps in filters, or no filter at all(!), affects how clean the system is. Leaking ducts (especially in crawl spaces under homes) can also be culprits for dirt, dust, insects, and even animal droppings.

A dirty nearby environment can also affect your HVAC system negatively. New construction, factories, and nearby highways can increase pollution outside your home or workspace. Dirty outside air dramatically increases the amount of pollution inside a building.

SIGNS OF MOLD IN AIR VENTS –

HOW COMMON IS IT FOR AIR VENTS OR HVAC SYSTEMS TO HAVE MOLD?

Having mold in your HVAC system is much more common than you might think. In fact, when we check an HVAC system during a mold or indoor air quality inspection, we find mold more often than not.

Most of the time the mold is located inside the air handler on the coil. There are two simple reasons for this:

Water is present on the coil when the air conditioner is running. The water is deposited as moisture is removed from the air during cooling. (If you’re familiar at all with our Education Center Blog, you already know that excess moisture usually leads to mold in your home.)
Air filters (or lack of filter!) inadequately prevent dust (aka ‘mold candy’) from being deposited on the coil, usually because filters are of poor quality, do not fit properly, or are missing altogether. Proper air filters changed regularly are one of the most important ways to keep mold out of your HVAC system. (We tell you all about filters later in the article. Keep reading to learn more!)
Once mold has begun growing inside the air handler, mold spores are blown into the home’s living space every time the heat or air conditioner runs. This compromises indoor air quality and can cause additional mold growth inside the ductwork and the home.

SIGNS OF MOLD IN YOUR HOME –
WHAT DOES MOLD SMELL LIKE?

Do you smell that? Did you forget to wash your gym clothes? Does the dog need a bath? You cleaned everything, and can’t find the stench! It’s so musty! What could it be?! If this sounds like your home or office, you might have a problem with mold and MVOC’s.

MVOC’s or Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds are compounds created by fungi and bacteria during their metabolic processes. MVOC’s can be detected by simply smelling the air. The smell of MVOC’s has been compared to stinky socks, locker room odor, wet dog, or old cheese. They give off a distinctly musty, moldy smell.

MVOC’s can be dangerous and even toxic to humans. MVOC’s can be mycotoxins or can cause allergy symptoms. It depends on which ones are present. Even if you can’t see any mold growing, if you smell musty, moldy odors, you may have a mold problem in your building.

There are also compounds called VOC’s or volatile organic compounds that can be produced by household cleaners, paints, aerosols, disinfectants, air fresheners, glues, and even furniture. VOC’s are not caused by mold or other microbes, and give off a distinctly chemical scent. VOC’s can cause health problems as well.

What Kinds Of Damage Can MVOC’s Cause?
There have been over 200 different chemical compounds identified as MVOC’s that are produced by fungi and bacteria. The chemicals produced include alcohols, arsenics, benzenes, toluenes, acids, sulfur compounds, and many more.

Many but not all of these chemicals are mycotoxins and are harmful to people and pets simply by breathing them in.

SIGNS OF MOLD IN AIR VENTS –

DO YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR AIR VENTS CLEANED?

According to the EPA, there are 3 main reasons you might want to have your ducts or air vents cleaned:

Ducts are clogged with dust or debris and the particles are being released into your home. (Dust plus moisture equals mold.)
Ducts are infested with rodents or insects
There is substantial mold growth inside your heating and cooling system (due to neglect, dust, rodents or insects).
Purchasing or selling a home is another time when duct cleaning may be needed. If you or (the previous owners) have pets or smoked, it is more likely that ducts could be clogged or need cleaning.
If your HVAC system is in a crawl space, it is also more likely to be prone to leaks and mold growth. For more information see our post: HVAC System in Your Crawl Space? You May Be Breathing Dirty Air.

SIGNS OF MOLD IN AIR VENTS –

DOES CLEANING MOLD FROM AIR VENTS IMPROVE AIR QUALITY?

The answer is maybe. If your system is dirty, through neglect, leaking ducts, mold growth, or poor air filtration it could help significantly!

However, people eager and willing to sell you ‘duct cleaning services’ for a gimmick price are all too many! There are a lot of scam artists out there. With no regulation on duct cleaning, it’s easy to get scammed. Before you rush to get your ducts cleaned, keep reading! We tell you all about all the tricks, and how to really get your money’s worth.

SIGNS OF MOLD IN AIR VENTS –

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED MOLD REMOVAL?

Does your home have a musty odor even after cleaning? Can you see visible mold growth near vents, air returns, or on filters? If you can see it or smell it (musty wet dog or gym bag types of smells), you may have mold in your air ducts.

In addition, if you are constantly ill with allergy symptoms, you may also want to have ducts cleaned. Even if mold is not present, allergens such as dust, pet dander, smoke, VOC’s (volatile organic compounds), microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC’s), and more can build up in your HVAC system. These allergens need to be removed (not killed) to improve your health.

To learn more about allergens in your home check out our post: Mold Allergy Avoidance – How to Stay Well.

If you have mold inside your HVAC air handler, it’s best to have a professional clean the coil, fan, and the ductwork. This is a service that most HVAC and mechanical contractors offer. Be sure to look at the coil yourself before they close the unit up, or ask for pictures to verify that the contractor has done a thorough job. Keep reading to learn all the questions to ask and how to avoid scams!

HOW TO CHOOSE A REPUTABLE COMPANY FOR AIR VENT MOLD REMOVAL

Air duct cleaning is NOT a DIY project. Special equipment is needed to remove dust, dirt, mold and debris. You really do need to choose a professional for this job. How can you choose the right contractor? What questions should you ask them before hiring them? What kind of advertising should you expect?

• Duct Cleaning Special, only $39.99!
• Duct cleaning 84% off!
• $290 worth of services for only $29.00!

Top 3 Duct Cleaning Scams

1.Blow and Go – The technician comes in and looks around, gets surface dust and dirt, and then leaves. They typically have many appointments in one day and don’t spend enough time truly trying to clean the ducts. They may not even remove parts to get to the interior of the system.

2.Bait and Switch – That $39.99 cleaning turns into $700 amazingly fast. They bait you with the cheap price, and then up-sell, or even charge for additional work you didn’t agree to have performed! Then, their work is still low quality.

According to the EPA, duct cleaning “services typically – but not always – range in cost from $450 to $1,000 per heating and cooling system, depending on: the services offered, the size of the system to be cleaned, system accessibility, climatic region, and level of contamination.” Any provider that offers a ‘$39.99 duct cleaning special,’ isn’t offering a full service cleaning. There are many scam artists out there. There are also unscrupulous companies who plan to ‘add on’ additional services whether you agree to them or not.

3.Mold Inspection – Scammers prey on your fears, use a cheap coupon or add to get their foot in the door. Then, they tell you you have mold…even if you don’t!

Here’s where we can help. If mold has been ‘found’ by a contractor, put a hold on the job, and get a second opinion.

Here at Branch Environmental, we are experts at mold inspection and remediation. We will tell you for sure if you have a problem or not. Call us or schedule an inspection today!

Especially if you don’t live in our service area, check out our post: How to Choose the ‘Best Mold Removal Company Near Me.’ Use our guide to help you choose the best mold inspection and removal company for your needs.

How to Protect Yourself from Scams

1. Do your homework – Know as much as you can about the company before hiring them.
2. Avoid advertisements or specials that advertise ‘whole house cleaning specials’ for less than $100. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
3. Request a system inspection before agreeing to the cleaning.
4. Ask for proof of insurance. A reputable company should be able to show you instant proof of important documents.
5. Hire a professional. Does the company have a good reputation? Are they transparent in what they are selling? Can they tell you more about the process of cleaning before you agree to have it done?
6. We’re Here When You Need Us. Where else could the mold be lurking? When mold is in the air vents, it can easily spread to other areas of your home. We routinely inspect HVAC systems, and can tell you for sure if you have mold. If you do have mold, you want it  all to be removed safely.

At Branch Environmental, we believe that no one should live or work in a building that makes them sick. We will treat your home like it’s our own. From hidden mold sources to major contaminants, we can identify exactly what is going on in your home and rid it of environmental toxins, often for good.

Branch Environmental – Because nobody should live or work in a building that makes them sick.