In an HVAC system, mold may develop due to moisture and humidity with the passage of time. It’s important to make sure that the heating and air conditioning system in a building is free of mold, especially black mold. Not doing so may cause a variety of health problems.
Every person has a different set of symptoms after long-term exposure to mold. Plus, the symptoms may depend upon the amount of mold inhaled and the degree of exposure. Let’s find out more about the dangers of mold growth in an HVAC system and the steps that can be taken to eliminate it.
Common symptoms of mold growth in an HVAC system
- Headaches and fatigue
- Irritated, itchy eyes
- Chronic sneezing and coughing
- Rashes
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Nausea
- Difficulty in concentration
- Difficulty in breathing
- Irritation of the nose and throat
If people in a house or facility show any of the symptoms listed above, it’s important to take immediate action to remove the contamination and to protect the health of everyone in the building. Ideally, the best way out is to hire the service of HVAC experts like BG Services to clean the HVAC system and prevent future infestations.
Although it’s better to hire a professional to get this job done, we can also go the DIY route provided we are familiar with these systems. Armed with some basic know-how, we can follow the expert tips given below to clean up the systems and eliminate the mold.
- First, we need to switch off the HVAC system
- Next, we need to put an N-95 respirator in order to block the mold spores from getting inside our body through our nose and mouth
- Third, we need to replace some of the wet parts like insulation and filters. It’s better to use thick plastic bags to collect the waste and dump it somewhere.
- For cleaning out standing water, we need to use wet vacuums.
- Experts suggest that we use a disinfectant that is EPA registered and designed for HVA for cleaning out non-porous surfaces like pans, plenums, coils and ductwork. The idea is to remove dirt, mold and mildew. This type of disinfectant can help remove bacteria, mold and mildew in an effective manner.
- The evaporator coils should be cleaned with a mechanical coil cleaning method for removing solid debris. Next, each ductwork section should be isolated in order to prevent spores from contaminating other parts around it. It’s even better that we fog the entire area using an EPA-registered disinfectant.
- Now, we need to apply an EPA registered mold and mildew inhibitor to the HVAC system components. We can’t just use any mold and mildew product as the use of wrong chemicals may create more problems rather than solve the existing ones.
- Lastly, we need to use a vacuum cleaner to clean up all the mess. That’s it.
Long story short, the growth of mold in an HVAC system can be really dangerous as it can lead to a lot of health problems. So, it’s better to clean up the HVAC system with the help of professional HVAC companies if you don’t think you can handle mold-related issues on your own.
