What Causes Mold In Air Conditioning Ducts

Mold can be one of the negative effects of floods or can indicate a problem with your air conditioning system.

What causes mold in air conditioning ducts.

How to eliminate mold from air conditioner duct can too much insulation cause condensation. Mold spores naturally traveling in the air attach to damp areas then begin to grow. Here s the checklist for smart homeowners to counter mold in air conditioning ducts. You may have black mold in your air ducts if you notice.

Generally warm air holds more moisture and makes the inside of your building more humid. Common causes of black mold in air vents. A warm location with high water vapor content is particularly prone to mold buildup within the ducts. A warm humid environment has the ideal conditions for mold to form.

Moisture and warm temperatures. Whether the mold is in your air conditioner unit or in your home heating ventilation and air conditioning hvac ducts it is a health hazard. Select duct cleaning methods and costs depending on the duct material type. Mold is common in environments that have dirt dampness and darkness.

However when black mold starts growing in your air vents things get a little trickier. As cool air flows through the vents on hot days the moisture in the air can condense inside the air vent. I often find mold on the exterior of air conditioning systems more often than the interior. This colder surface then chills the surrounding air to a temperature below it s dew point which causes the water vapor to condense into a liquid just like on the outside of a glass of iced teas sitting outside on a hot day.

If no one in your household suffers from allergies or unexplained symptoms or illnesses and if after a visual inspection of the inside of the ducts you see no indication that your air ducts are contaminated with large deposits of dust or mold no musty odor or visible mold growth having your air ducts cleaned is probably unnecessary. And the truth is if you have mold in your air conditioner there is probably also mold in the hvac ducts since it s all connected. Mold in air ducts most commonly occurs when there is moisture inside the ductwork. Sometimes extreme insulation can cause condensation.

Also read 10 common air conditioning problems you should know about checklist for a mold free home. Conduct mold testing to confirm an infestation. You can see the same principle at work when you drink an icy beverage and water beads up on the outside of the glass. What causes mold infestation in the hvac air ducts.

Most people are aware that exposure to household mold can cause illness. This is because insulation warms the indoor area of your building. Condensation forms when warm humid air comes into contact with a colder surface like your air conditioner s ductwork. Water vapor can form within the duct system when cold air passes through and when there is high water vapor content in the outside environment the water droplets usually collect instead of.

A humid climate along with poor ventilation or anything that traps moisture in your walls and causes condensation can lead to mold in air ducts. When black mold grows on walls floors carpets and so on it s relatively easy to spot.