Would you like to know to get rid of mold from your AC vents? When mold grows on the vents, it is necessary to remove it as fast as possible since it poses a threat to the health of those living in the house.
When not removed, it can grow further, creating a lot more damage to things. Fortunately, it is possible to remove mold in a few simple steps explained in this guide. However, if you still need assistance from a professional, check this article.
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Mold on the air vent is dangerous for the health of the people living in the house. Even if you can’t still see it, mold can create a lot of respiratory symptoms and other health problems. Here are the main clues that mold is present somewhere in the house:
People with allergies or a weakened immune system are more susceptible to the harmful effects of mold. In addition, people with asthma can get more attacks if mold is present. Furthermore, mold can facilitate the production of microbes and bacteria, which can be responsible for inflammations.
Some severe consequences of the presence of mold are:
Mold enters the house in many ways. It is enough to have an open doorway, a window, and of course, it can come through vents and the HVAC system. In addition, when you walk outside, mold can attach to clothes and shoes.
If you have a dog, your dog can get in contact with mold and will bring it into the house. Once in the house, if mold spores find their way to a place with a lot of moisture, they will start to grow. Places that are very favorable for mold growth are pipes, roofs, where there was flooding, and walls.
Unfortunately, some houses are built with materials that aid mold growth, such as cardboard, cellulose, wood, ceiling tiles, drywall, carpets, and wallpaper.
Mold reproduces only through spores which are invisible to people. Once they find a good place, they can reproduce without additional help.
In general, most types of mold look like a black stain. However, it can also be orange, green, brown, and sometimes with furry growth. One of the first signs of the presence of mold is the smell.
If mold is growing inside the ducts significantly, before you see it, you could smell it. Mold smell is like a musty, wet, or rotten odor.
Mold tends to grow on air vents because they have a lot of moisture and damp spots. Humidity is also present all over the vents, which facilitates mold growth. In addition, when dirt and dust block air ventilation, the lack of air flowing can lead to more mold growth.
Other factors can be favorable for the development of mold. For example, an extensive air conditioning system can cool tiny houses very fast and thus lead to excessive moisture gathering in air vents.
Putting the air conditioning too low will produce too cold air, which will result in condensation in the room and air vents. When the condensation is not drying properly, it can lead to mold formation.
There are many ways to remove mold from vents. Providing the mold has not compromised the integrity of the vent structure, you could clean it using different cleaning products and some “elbow grease.”
The products you could use to clean mold out are:
Whatever cleaning product you use, the first thing to do is turn off the HVAC unit. Once there is no air flowing through the vent, you should unscrew and remove the vent. Then place the air vent into warm soapy water (whether you use dish soap, laundry soap, or bleach).
While you leave the vent soaking in the water, you should vacuum clean the duct around the vent. Then scrub the vent thoroughly using a brush, wash it and let it dry. Once thoroughly dried, attach it again to its place.
Since you are dealing with mold, you should use protection when you are working to clean it to prevent irritating your eyes and the respiratory tract. In addition, if you do not want to deal with molding yourself, you can always hire a professional.
You can also take preventive measures to stop mold from growing in your house. Mold likes humidity. Therefore the first thing to do is to keep humidity low. A good dehumidifier can keep moisture levels low and prevent mold; you could keep it in the most humid places of the house.
Another way to prevent mold is to use mold growth inhibitors in the air vent and replace air filters regularly to ensure airflow is free from obstacles. In addition, drip pans need to be cleaned often since mold likes to grow there.
If you live in a humid area, you could have regular cleaning done on your air vents and ducts as a preventive measure. Finally, routine maintenance can ensure that your system is working correctly and that nothing is blocking the vents since reduced air circulation leads to more mold.
If you want to keep mold out of the house, it is essential to inspect the home for evidence of visible mold and to locate leaky roofs, pipes, and windows. In case of flooding, ensure to clean and dry the area well.
With a bit of patience and work, it is possible to remove mold from AC vents. It doesn’t cost a lot to clean mold out; however, if mold managed to spread too much in the ducts and the rest of the house, you might need to call a professional company to help you out.
If you need help removing mold from your house, don’t hesitate to contact us.
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