Due to the increasing heat every summer, it is common to find air conditioning systems at homes and offices. Anywhere there is a lack of fresh air circulation; you are likely to find an HVAC system keeping the indoors cool and fresh. A standard home or office air conditioning system does more than keeping the air cool. It keeps the humidity in check, and the heating system kicks in on the chilly days to keep the indoors comfortably warm.
However, what is your HVAC system costing you? Not regarding money, but regarding your health and your family’s health. Over the years, as the warm and humid air flows through the vents it traps a huge volume of dust, micro-organisms, debris, animal dander and spores. This gives rise to the much-dreaded mold inside the vents in the, particularly humid areas. Some HVAC service companies will tell you that if you have a heating and cooling system with ducts, vents, and drainpipes, it is safe to assume that you have mold inside the system to some degree. Sadly, they are not wrong.
Is mold a new member of your family?
Mold in HVAC Air Ducts is invisible to naked eye, at least in the initial phases of growth. As the problem becomes chronic, the mold colonies manifest in the form of crumbling black mass clinging to the mouths of the vents and inside the ducts. You should not wait for this visual confirmation to take action. Having mold inside your home means you are breathing in the spores from time to time. This can lead to a plethora of health problems including shortness of breath, allergic rhinitis, rashes and irritation in the eyes that magically disappear once you step outside. In case you have been experiencing these symptoms in the last few days, you might have a mold problem at home.
Which parts of your HVAC need cleaning?
Mold can grow in various parts of your HVAC system –
Ducts: this is a little challenging to clean, and it is better to leave cleaning this to the experts. The process usually requires a strong vacuum cleaner and a cleaning brush.
Evaporator: this is kind of easier to clean. You can regularly monitor it as well as clean it in place with a good coil cleaner.
Blower: to clean the blower you need to disassemble it from the motor first. This needs training for the disassembly and reassembly process.
Can you prevent recurrence of mold in your HVAC system?
A very good way to keep mold off your HVAC system after the cleaning service is by investing in a good UV light. These are not the same black lights that would moonlight as nightlights back in the 90s. These emit high energy light waves with no heat. They can prevent the growth of all kinds of fungi, including mold in your system. Installing UV lights has been a way to fight off unwanted microbes in laboratories that deal with microbes, hospitals, and clinics.
Mold can be detrimental to your health. HVAC systems are indispensable in the more humid and warmer climates. To keep your family and your loved ones safe, run a mold test regularly and keep the air inside your home healthy.
