Mold In Air Vents – Causes, Symptoms, Prevention, And Removal

Mold in air vents and air ducts is often overlooked. It’s important to regularly clean your HVAC system to prevent mold growth. If mold growth in air vents and AC ducts goes undetected for a long time, it can lead to several other issues. Mold spores get dispensed in the air and can cause an outbreak everywhere.

On top of that, mold is seriously damaging to your health. Allergies, asthma, runny nose, and infected eyes are some of the health issues posed by mold in your AC filter air ducts.

How To Identify Mold In Air Vents?

The first step in mold removal and prevention is mold inspection. If you keep checking your vents and ducts, you can easily find out if there’s any mold growth. If you want to do a mold inspection by yourself, look for signs such as musty odors, and increased allergies. Open the vents and check the grills for any signs of mold growth.

Identifying Black Mold

If you see any black dust or powder on your grills, it’s black mold. This also means that mold has also spread to other parts of your house. Check the closed, warm, and humid spots in your house. After a thorough inspection, take steps for mold removal. To be 100% sure, seek help from mold inspection specialists.

Mold affects air vents and A/C ducts have some common signs and symptoms that are easy to detect. Look for these signs when you suspect any mold growth.

Visible Mold

Your HVAC system can show visible mold growth on the grills, filters, and inside the vents. This should be obvious enough for mold removal and eradication. However, this does not always happen in the early stages of mold growth in your vents and ducts.

Strong, Musty Odors

If you smell something damp and musty after you turn on the HVAC system, it’s a sign there’s mold growth inside. At this point, you should open the return air vents and look for mold growth inside.

Black Powder Coming Out

When you turn on the AC, any powder or dust coming out of it is a sign of mold growth. The mold on the grills is blown out through the flow of air.

Increased Health Issues

If you notice that people in the house are getting sick more than usual, it’s probably because of mold in the air vents. Allergies, skin infections, itchy eyes, fevers, and throat and nose infections, are some common health issues caused by mold.

If you identify any signs or symptoms given above, your HVAC system is affected by mold growth. Seek advice from Mold Removal Specialists for further damage and prevention.

Causes Of Mold In Air Vents

High humidity and moisture buildup is a common cause of mold in air vents and ducts. However, moisture is not the only cause of mold growth. There are many other reasons why your AC vents have mold growth inside. These causes are:

Dust Buildup

If you’re not cleaning your air vents and grills, the dust can start accumulating. This increases the chances of mold growth. When mold spores get ample dust and moisture, they grow rapidly.

High Humidity Levels

If you live in a highly humid climate, the chances of mold growth around the house become very high. If there’s mold growing on the ceiling, under the floors, or in the walls, the mold spores will get trapped in your air vents and start reproducing.

Water Leaks

Water leaks anywhere in the house allow mold to grow. If there’s a leak in the pipes in the walls or the roof surrounding air vents, the mold will grow in those areas. It will eventually spread to the air ducts and vents. Fix any leaks before it’s too late.

Poor Ventilation

Poor ventilation of the house leads to the retention of moisture. The air gets trapped in the house and when you turn the AC on, the same air starts circulating in the house. This leads to moisture buildup and eventually causes mold growth in air vents and AC ducts.

To prevent mold growth, make sure that you pay attention to potential mold-causing factors. Keep an eye on your vents and terminate mold in hidden spots. Regular maintenance of your air vents can help you detect mold growth in the early stages. If your air vents are already mold-affected, take quick action for mold removal.

Can Mold In Vents Make You Sick?

Yes, all kinds of mold, especially black mold, pose a lot of health risks. They are silent killers. Long-term mold exposure can lead to permanent lung damage and liver damage in severe cases. Less severe cases of mold-related issues include asthma, dizziness, fatigue, and skin allergies. A runny nose, itchy eyes, and irritated throat are the most common illnesses related to mold exposure.

Inhaling mold and accidentally eating mold can lead to fatal illnesses. When inhaled, the mold starts attacking your lungs. You may experience shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and toxicity of the lungs. If ingested, mold can cause poisoning in the worst-case scenario.

Ways To Prevent Mold In Air Vents

If you see any signs of mold growth in your house, take quick action. However, you should not wait for the mold to grow. Take preventive measures beforehand because eradicating mold is very difficult and dangerous. Take the following steps routinely to prevent mold growth in your air vents:

• Clean your filters regularly
• Use dehumidifiers in the house to bring down humidity levels
• Insulate the air vents to reduce condensation
• Fix water leaks in the roof or walls
• Clean your drip pans regularly

How To Remove Mold From Air Vents?

Mold removal from your AC system can be exhausting and dangerous. If not done properly, there are chances that mold will grow back in the same spots. It’s always better to leave the job to trained professionals. However, if you decide to do the job yourself, make sure you wear protective gloves, goggles, a mask, and a coverall to protect yourself. Follow the guidelines given below:

Switch Off Your AC System

Switch off your AC before you begin cleaning. This will prevent the spreading of the spores and make it easier to deal with the filters and clean the grills.

Scrub With A Cleaning Solution

There are several ways to clean mold. The first step is to brush off the visible mold. Then, use vinegar, borax, or hydrogen peroxide to clean the mold. You can also use a store-bought cleaning solution.

Hire Mold Removal Experts

As you know by now, mold poses several health risks. Dealing with mold yourself will increase your chances of getting sick and spreading the mold spores. It’s advisable to get an expert opinion and get in touch with mold removal experts. They have the right equipment and trained personnel to ensure thorough mold removal and prevention.