It’s no secret that mold can cause trouble wherever it grows. Keeping environments dry and well-ventilated can help prevent mold growth and reduce the risk of associated health problems, but what can you do to protect areas that are harder to access?
Ductwork provides mold with the dark and moist environment it needs to thrive. If mold is in your air ducts, mold spores are being distributed throughout your home any time your HVAC system is running, presenting serious issues.
In the latest blog post from Schebler Heating and Air, we’ll discuss some signs of mold in your ductwork, how mold grows in your air ducts, and how duct cleaning methods can remove mold. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Signs of Mold in Your Air Ducts
Musty Odors
Mold contains microbial volatile organic compounds, or mVOCs, that give mold a musty odor. If the air throughout your entire home smells musty and is unpleasant to breathe, your ductwork might be the culprit. The odor might be more prominent while your HVAC system is running, but it can linger even after the system is off. Have your ductwork inspected if you notice any musty odors in your home.
Increased Allergy Symptoms
From watery eyes and scratchy throats to headaches and sneezing, mold can take seasonal allergies to another level. If allergy symptoms seem worse than normal this year, it might be due to the presence of mold. Having a professional identify and address the source of the mold can alleviate allergy symptoms and help your family breathe safe, comfortable air once again.
Black Spots Around the Vents
When your ductwork has mold, mold spores will be distributed throughout your home anytime the HVAC system attempts to heat or cool your home. This can create black spots around your vents that have a wet and slimy texture. Not only are these spots difficult to remove, but they’ll keep coming back until the root of the issue is ultimately addressed. Protect your home and everyone within it by removing mold from your air ducts.
How Does Mold Grow in Air Ducts?
Understanding how mold entered your ductwork in the first is crucial to completely remedying mold and ensuring the problem won’t return in the future. Mold can enter air ducts in a couple of different ways:
- Through an air conditioner: As an air conditioner cools the air, condensation can build up on the evaporator coil. Air conditioners have drainage systems to prevent moisture from building up, but if the drainage system isn’t working properly, moisture will remain in the system, creating an ideal environment for mold growth.
- Through gaps in the ductwork: Over time, air ducts can develop cracks and holes that allow moisture to enter the ductwork directly. The wet and dark environment created by air ducts provides a perfect environment for mold growth.
How Duct Cleaning Can Remove Mold in Air Ducts
Put simply, if there’s mold in your air ducts, there’s mold in your air supply. That’s why it’s so important to have your air ducts cleaned at the first sign of mold growth.
With duct cleaning services, your technician will begin by performing a visual inspection. This will help them identify where the mold is before beginning the cleaning process. The rest of the process can vary depending on your exact ductwork, the severity and location of the mold growth, and other factors. However, with duct cleaning services, you can generally expect your technician to:
- Use specialized equipment to clean out your air ducts and remove any mold. This may include using high-powered vacuums, brushes, and other equipment, depending on the location and severity of the mold growth.
- Sanitize the air ducts to ensure any mold spores that might’ve been lingering in the air have been completely eliminated.
Contact Schebler Heating and Air for Duct Cleaning Services in the Quad Cities
At Schebler Heating and Air, we understand the issues that mold growth can cause. That’s why we provide the Quad Cities with reliable duct cleaning services to remove mold and keep you breathing safe and comfortable air. Get in contact with our team today to schedule duct cleaning services in Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline and Rock Island.