Air Duct Mold Removal
When I received this request for air duct cleaning, I wanted to make sure I was the best option for the project. It was early in the workday, and he was the first caller of the day.
“A Friend Used Your Service For Air Duct Cleaning Before And Recommended That I Give You A Call”
The customer went on to explain that there was some renovation in an office he was planning to open and there was some mold discovered. He was instructed to have a certified mold remediation specialist come on site to check the HVAC system and air ducts for mold contamination.
How Mold Grows in Air Ducts
The HVAC system compresses air in what is know as the “a-coil” of a unit. When the air is compressed it produces an excesses of moisture which is released from the unit by way of a “pipe drain,” usually made from plumbers PVC. Proper maintenance of the air duct system requires this pipe drain be cleaned regularly. It is recommended that this drain be cleaned whenever you change the filter of your HVAC unit, or once a month.
When proper maintenance of the air duct drainage system is ignored, foreign waste particles begin to build up over time causing clogs and drainage back ups.
Excess Moisture Allows Mold to Grow In Air Ducts
Elevated moisture levels supported by pipe drain clogs create the prefect conditions for mold to grow in air ducts. There are signs that you have mold growing in your HVAC unit.
-
Visible mold growth on the PVC
-
Visible mold on air duct vent covers
-
Heavy build up on return covers
NADCA recommends having your air ducts cleaned once per year; however, research suggests that the average homeowner only has their air ducts cleaned once every three to five years. When you combine this lack of air duct cleaning with the lack of HVAC drain cleaning the likeliness of developing a mold contamination issue within your air duct system becomes highly probable.
Humidifiers May Support Mold Growth in Air Ducts
Many homeowners love the idea of installing a “whole house humidifier” in their HVAC system. While the ideal may sound nice, the pros may not outweigh the cons. I never suggest that a humidifier be installed in an air duct system without simultaneously installing a UV light system to help combat the elevated likeliness of mold growth developing in the HVAC system once the humidifier is installed.
Dirty Filters Support Mold Growth in Air Ducts
I recommend installing filters at each of the return openings of the air duct HVAC system. By doing this you reduce the amount of foreign particulates entering the HVAC unit, both organic and non-organic. However; disposable filters are designed to be disposed, usually after thirty days. Once a filter has reached its capacity it becomes inefficient.
Residential Air Duct Mold Remediation
Mold Metrix specializes in residential mold remediation and does not offer air duct cleaning where there is no concerns of mold contamination. Most air duct cleaning companies are not mold remediation and removal specialist. This is the distinction between Mold Metrix and other companies offering air duct mold removal services. At Metrix, we SPECIALISE in solving the specific problem of removing mold from an HVAC system.
Air Duct Mold Removal
3 Steps to Air Duct Mold Removal
Decontaminate Main HVAC Unit
This involves cleaning and decontaminating both the blow, a-coil, return box and other interior components of the unit, as well as the exterior components such as the drainpipe. Your HVAC is the “heart” of your home and the air ducts and like its “lungs.” When mold contamination begins, it usually starts here and then is spread to other areas of the home or office.
Decontaminate Air Ducts & Filters
In most cases, mold will not become established throughout the entire air duct system, for two reasons.
-
Forced Air Movement
-
Smooth Sheet Metal Interior