Black Mold In Air Conditioner Vents

Use a better air filter.

Black mold in air conditioner vents.

However when black mold starts growing in your air vents things get a little trickier. Common causes of black mold in air vents. Exposure to mold in the home whether visible or not can cause a variety of serious health problems one hidden place that mold can grow is within your air conditioner. There s been a mysterious slightly moldy smell in my home all summer and this morning when our window air conditioner kicked on i noticed that the odor unmistakably came from the unit.

Mold can be one of the negative effects of floods or can indicate a problem with your air conditioning system. The best way to prevent this black soot from circulating into your home is to upgrade to an air filter with a merv of at least 13. Condenser coils pull moisture out of the air and into drip pans and if these become clogged they create the perfect environment for mold to grow. Condensation forms in the coils and ducts as cool air circulates through the system creating a habitat for moisture loving mold.

As cool air flows through the vents on hot days the moisture in the air can condense inside the air vent. So if you re seeing black particles coming out of your air conditioner vents and you re a fan of burning candles or your fireplace the most likely culprit is soot. One of the first signs that black mold is growing in your air vents is a distinct musty mildew like smell in specific rooms or even throughout your entire home. Therefore if you live in a warm climate and your home smells musty all the time you have the perfect reason to suspect a mold infestation within the central air conditioning system.

The mold that may be present on a vent is not generally toxic but can cause an allergic type reaction such as coughing or sneezing. Cleaning black mold from air conditioning vents. You can see the same principle at work when you drink an icy beverage and water beads up on the outside of the glass. Because vents are not porous black mold in which the scientific term is stachybotrys does not grow on vents.

When black mold grows on walls floors carpets and so on it s relatively easy to spot. Mold is a dreaded problem no homeowner wants to face. Mold in air ducts most commonly occurs when there is moisture inside the ductwork. You may have black mold in your air ducts if you notice.

Look for the first signs of mold around ac vents in the ducts and in the drip pans. With air constantly circulating through the unit into your home mold spores are sometimes picked up and pushed into your living areas.