What Causes Mold In Hvac Ducts

Too much air moisture.
What causes mold in hvac ducts. Black mold has a distinctive unpleasant musty smell. Common causes of mold in hvac systems. With black mold growing in your air ducts you may notice symptoms like itchy eyes and sneezing growing worse when you re indoors particularly when you re running the ac. Both of these are easily treatable.
This warm dark dusty environment provides an excellent breeding ground for mold. Some experts recommend using ozone but the cdc and other agencies have warned that this method of removing mold can be damaging to the respiratory system. What causes mold infestation in the hvac air ducts. Since ductwork circulates air throughout your home mold growth located in the ducts or around the entrances to the ducts could mean your family will be breathing unhealthy air.
At the end of the day there are really only two causes for condensation on ductwork. Moisture condensation is the largest cause of mold in hvac ducts. It can help prevent the causes of mold by making sure there are no issues that can cause moisture leaks. Once you ve taken care of the mold in air ducts it s important to make sure it doesn t happen again.
It has a lot to do with the fact that cooling of humid air often produces a lot of excessive moisture such as condensation on cooling coils collecting in dripping pans and so on. Improperly insulated ductwork and excessive moisture in the air. Water vapor can form within the duct system when cold air passes through and when there is high water vapor content in the outside environment the water droplets usually collect instead of. In a humid new jersey climate air ducts are among the most common places to find mold.
Main causes for condensation occurring in your ac ducts include the temperature difference between the outside air and ac vent improperly sealed ac ducts and lack of insulation around these ducts. What causes condensation in hvac ducts. While most molds only produce dust and allergens that can cause minor respiratory problems itchy eyes coughs sinus problems etc there are some molds that can. What causes mold in air duct hvac.
The mold problem that you have could be being caused by not having enough ventilation ducts air returns or the hvac system itself may not have even been set up correctly when your home was built. Another possibility is that a previous homeowner may have done some diy renovations to the hvac that weren t done correctly. Getting an hvac preventative maintenance plan is a great way to keep an eye on the mold and keep your hvac system healthy. Remember that condensation can cause all sorts of problems from leaks to mold infestation so take the time to address this problem as soon as you can.
A warm location with high water vapor content is particularly prone to mold buildup within the ducts. However ductwork sweating can also be aggravated by factors like. Mold can be killed with a mixture of one cup of bleach per gallon of water but chances are good that you won t be able to reach. During warmer seasons cooler air is being piped through vents and sometimes moisture will condensate along the sides of the ductwork.