Mold in Your Air Ducts Isn"t Always Caused By a Leaky Roof
Unless you have your air ducts cleaned and inspected regularly mold can be in your air ducts for years without knowing it. It's difficult not to hear about all the damaging side effects mold can create on people and pets. It's in the news constantly. Perhaps the most aggravating aspect surrounding mold related illnesses is that they are generally tricky to diagnose, sometimes taking years. This means numerous doctor visits and high bills. If the source of the ailment turns out to be mold and the source of the mold is their own house it is no wonder their symptoms don't improve.
When people realize that it was mold in their air vents that caused them to become sick they are quite often puzzled to figure out how the mold got in the vents in the first place. Mold involves moisture and many people can't figure out how moisture got in there. They hire plumbers to check for pipe leaks. They hire a roofer to test for roof leaks. Often to no avail. This is not only discouraging but expensive. Then they are left with the worries that they have only removed the mold and not removed or fixed the cause of the mold so it could be back at any time but it could be years until they knew.
What people may not be aware of is that moisture is involved in properly functioning air conditioner. Air conditioners remove moisture from the air and it is this evaporation that creates cool air. Air conditioners are designed to remove this moisture in a safe manner. Some do it more efficiently than others and these systems can deteriorate over time.
Somewhere on the outside of your home is a tube that drains the moisture removed from the air by your air conditioner. When it is humid more moisture is removed from the air so more water should be coming out the drain. If noticeably less water is coming out it could very well be an indication your air conditioner is not functioning properly. Either it is not removing as much moisture from the air or the system that removes the water is not working properly. In either case it is appropriate to consult with an air conditioning technician.
Condensation inside your HVAC system is also normal and is created when the temperature of air inside the system is less than the dew point temperature of the surrounding air. Incorrectly installed systems, incorrectly serviced systems and malfunctioning systems can produce too much condensation which can lead to mold.
A little understanding of how air conditioners work can go a long way in realizing that moisture is to be expected in your HVAC system. And moisture is present there is the the chance of mold and mildew growth. Mold in your air ducts can lead to serious health issues and by the time you know there is mold in your air ducts it is frequently too late because your family could have already been exposed to harmful levels of mold.
The best way to avoid mold from developing in your heating and cooling system is periodic cleaning and inspection by a professional air duct cleaner.
When people realize that it was mold in their air vents that caused them to become sick they are quite often puzzled to figure out how the mold got in the vents in the first place. Mold involves moisture and many people can't figure out how moisture got in there. They hire plumbers to check for pipe leaks. They hire a roofer to test for roof leaks. Often to no avail. This is not only discouraging but expensive. Then they are left with the worries that they have only removed the mold and not removed or fixed the cause of the mold so it could be back at any time but it could be years until they knew.
What people may not be aware of is that moisture is involved in properly functioning air conditioner. Air conditioners remove moisture from the air and it is this evaporation that creates cool air. Air conditioners are designed to remove this moisture in a safe manner. Some do it more efficiently than others and these systems can deteriorate over time.
Somewhere on the outside of your home is a tube that drains the moisture removed from the air by your air conditioner. When it is humid more moisture is removed from the air so more water should be coming out the drain. If noticeably less water is coming out it could very well be an indication your air conditioner is not functioning properly. Either it is not removing as much moisture from the air or the system that removes the water is not working properly. In either case it is appropriate to consult with an air conditioning technician.
Condensation inside your HVAC system is also normal and is created when the temperature of air inside the system is less than the dew point temperature of the surrounding air. Incorrectly installed systems, incorrectly serviced systems and malfunctioning systems can produce too much condensation which can lead to mold.
A little understanding of how air conditioners work can go a long way in realizing that moisture is to be expected in your HVAC system. And moisture is present there is the the chance of mold and mildew growth. Mold in your air ducts can lead to serious health issues and by the time you know there is mold in your air ducts it is frequently too late because your family could have already been exposed to harmful levels of mold.
The best way to avoid mold from developing in your heating and cooling system is periodic cleaning and inspection by a professional air duct cleaner.
