One of the core causes of mold is high humidity levels. For this reason, your air conditioner is effective at reducing humidity levels and maintaining healthy levels of 30% to 50%. Unfortunately, your air conditioner can also be a source of mold if it is not properly maintained. The purpose of this article is to explain how your air conditioner could be a source of mold contamination and what you can do to address this problem.
The HVAC System Is Your Home’s Lungs
HVAC is an abbreviation for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. The purpose of the HVAC system is to provide healthy indoor air quality by removing moisture, odors, smoke, heat, dust, airborne bacteria, and carbon dioxide, and replace it with clean air.
Ventilation is the most important component of your HVAC system because it’s main purpose is to circulate the air within the home and ideally is constantly introducing outside air into the system. The duct work in the HVAC system enables it to circulate the air throughout the whole home. Proper maintenance of your HVAC system is essential to ensuring that your indoor air quality is optimal.
Failure to replace filters is the number one error that home owners make. Filters need to be replaced consistently because they prevent pollen, pesticides, and other pollutants from entering the home. Once pollutants, dust, and other debris get into the duct work, mold can begin to grow because it now has a food source. Mold will only begin to grow if there is moisture. Once mold spores enter the air conditioning system, alternating high and low humidity conditions will help grow, spread, and distribute the spores throughout the house.
Illnesses Caused By Air Conditioning Mold
Health signs that you could have mold in your AC unit include the following:
Frequent colds
Stomach pains
Ear infections
Frequent headaches
Allergic reactions
Asthma
Coughing
Sneezing
Wheezing
Itchy skin
Sore nasal passages
Irritated throat
Watery eyes/dry eyes
Hypersensitivity
Skin care problems
Many of these symptoms are also associated with over-exposure to air conditioning which causes mucus membranes to dry out, causing colds, upper respiratory infections, dry skin, nose bleeds, and flu-like symptoms including fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and breathing difficulties.
Another potential problem caused by over-exposure to air conditioning is heat intolerance which causes discomfort when you go outside. Symptoms of heat intolerance include exhaustion, dizziness, headaches, and heat stroke. Prevent over-exposure by using a thermostat that regulates the indoor temperature, meaning the AC unit turns off when the ideal temperature is reached and turns on when the temperature goes above the ideal setting.
How Do I Verify That I Have Air Conditioning Mold?
If you are experiencing the health symptoms above and suspect that your AC unit or duct work is contaminated with mold, here are some clues to determine if you do have mold.
1. Check your vents and look for any visible mold or a musty smell in the room.
2. Take a short vacation and record your health symptoms. If you feel better when you are out of your home, then likely you have air quality concerns in your home which could be caused by mold.
3. Hire a professional mold inspector to do a complete survey of the home to find the source of contamination and determine if the home requires remediation. Also, be sure to check your crawlspace for suspect mold.
If no suspect mold is found or major moisture concerns that could be causing the mold, then a comparative air quality test can measure the relative spore count inside and outside. If the spore count is much higher inside than outside, then this could indicate that you have mold spores circulating throughout your home and you should get your AC unit and ducts checked for mold.
Removing Air Conditioning Mold
If you have mold in your AC unit, then it should be professionally cleaned. When you hire the service company, ensure that they take the following actions:
Clean the blower unit.
Use a certified and non-toxic chemical cleaner.
Use a chemical that has anti-fungi and anti-bacterial properties.
Ensure that the technician does not just clean the unit with a vacuum and brush because this simply agitates the bacteria and viruses breeding there.
We also recommend that the ducts are professionally cleaned in accordance with NADCA standards to ensure that your whole HVAC system is functioning efficiently and to prevent further spread of mold spores.
Professionals should be hired because it can be difficult to access all the parts of the air conditioning ductwork and they have the experience and training to do this properly. Further, professionals have air whips or air skippers that drive dust, dirt, mold, and other debris toward collection devices fitted with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters.
Preventing Air Conditioning Mold
Mold can be prevented in your air conditioner and HVAC system. Once you have the system professionally serviced and cleaned, these guidelines will help prevent future problems
1. Always maintain indoor humidity levels between 30% and 50% by getting a humidistat installed and set at the ideal level.
2. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations and clean or replace your unit’s air filter because these are designed to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. Failure to properly clean and replace filters will allow pollutants to build up and get caught in the filter and disperse into your indoor air.
3. Service your HVAC system every year.
4. Turn off your system and open the windows during cooler periods to bring in more fresh air. Adequate ventilation is essential to reducing indoor contaminants.
5. Install an air cleaner on your central heating and air conditioner unit to ensure a constant stream of clean air.
Consistent use of your AC is important because it reduces humidity levels which is moisture that mold needs to thrive. However, like any household appliance, you need to properly service and maintain your AC unit to ensure that it is operating efficiently and does not become a source of indoor contamination. Preventative maintenance is the key.
Is Your Air Conditioner Making You Sick?: The purpose of this article is to explain how you air conditioner could be a source of #mold contamination making you sick and what you can do to fix the problem.
Finding mold in your home is disconcerting because you are concerned about the potential health impact on you and your family.
The purpose of this article is to answer the following three questions for Atlanta residents that need mold removal:
1. What steps does a mold inspector take to determine if a mold problem exists?
2. What questions should I ask to ensure that I am working with a reputable mold removal professional?
3. What criteria does the professional use to determine the final mold removal cost?
What steps does a mold inspector take to determine if a mold problem exists?
The three steps a mold inspector will take to determine if a mold problem exists include the following:
Step #1: Identify The Root Cause of the Problem
The root cause of mold is moisture. With this in mind, during the inspection process, the inspector will ask many questions to try to learn more about past and existent moisture problems. You will be asked about past moisture problems that could be caused by flooding, leaks, excessive humidity, etc. The inspector will also check the levels of humidity and moisture levels using moisture detection equipment.
Once this step is complete and if the inspector is positive that there are moisture issues, the next step is to…
Step #2: Find Out If Moisture Problems Are Still Present
The mission of all mold inspectors is to find the moisture problems and then determine what needs to be done for this to be fixed. Indeed, there is no point in removing mold or addressing a mold concern unless the underlying cause is first fixed. For instance, if you have a leaky roof, pipes, seepage, and/or high humidity levels, these problems need to be fixed first because moisture is what mold needs to thrive.
Determining the source of moisture can be a challenge if the home has mold, but no history of flooding and no clear evidence of moisture issues like visual water stains. In cases like this and if it is clear that there is mold, the inspector may recommend that a specialist in Thermal Imaging be consulted to determine if there are hidden leaks. Thermal imaging helps identify hot and cold spots that can pinpoint areas where there could be hidden leaks or moisture intrusion.
The final step a mold inspector must address is to…
Step #3: Determine The Type of Mold
The core purpose of this step is to find out what type of mold you have.
This can also be a challenge if there is no visual mold present but there is a mildewy or urine like smell indicating that there is mold somewhere, perhaps hidden behind walls. In instances like this, the mold inspector may recommend an air quality test to measure the spore count inside of the home and outside of the home.
Once the samples are collected, they should be sent to a Third Party Lab to determine the type of mold present.
These results will be provided to you along with an explanation of the type of mold, spore count, and potential health consequences that the present mold species will have.
After your initial investment into the mold inspection and air quality tests (if applicable) and it is verified that you have a mold problem, then you need to determine which mold removal company you will work with.
What questions ensure I am working with a reputable mold removal professional?
If you search for Atlanta mold removal companies on Google, you will find many businesses that offer mold removal services. But who can you trust?
An on-going concern in our industry relates to the lack of licensing and regulation. Because of this, any contractor who wants to profit from mold removal can offer the service even if they lack experience and training. As a consumer, you need to be aware of this and the best defense is due diligence.
If you have a mold problem that needs to be remediated, then you should get estimates from a minimum of three qualified contractors, and check to see what their BBB rating is. In addition, qualify the contractor, by asking these questions:
1. Does the mold removal contractor offer a written contract/change order?
2. Does the mold removal contractor offer a remediation plan?
3. Does the mold removal contractor offer a post-remediation report?
4. Does the mold removal contractor provide recommendations of independent indoor environmental professionals that can provide you with a post-remediation verification report, to verify the success of the work?
5. Does the mold removal contractor have proof of insurance?
6. Does the mold removal contractor’s employees have training through recognized and reputable organizations?
7. Does the mold removal contractor set up containment to prevent cross contamination?
8. Does the mold removal contractor use negative air machines and air scrubbers to clean the air?
9. Does the mold removal contractor give you a list of referrals and their contact details?
10. Does the mold removal contractor use DOP (Dispersed Oil Particulate) tested equipment which is a process that tests the integrity of the HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters used?
You should get YES answers to all of these questions and if you don’t, interview other contractors.
Another key question you need to ask relates to the guarantee a mold remediation contractor offers on their work. Are they willing to offer you a guarantee?
Once you have found three contractors that have passed your due diligence testing and you know that you are willing to hire one of them, then the next step is to request the following documents from each of them:
1. Itemized mold removal estimate.
2. Mold removal plan of action, also referred to as a scope of work.
3. An authorization to proceed (ATP), which is the service contract.
Itemized Mold Removal Estimate
The estimate details exactly what you are paying for. A professional estimate will outline what you are paying for and will usually provide you with pricing for the following: equipment; garbage removal; materials and consumables; mold removal labor; documentation; equipment decontamination; management charges; etc. This type of break down provides you with information that you can compare with other quotes you receive.
Be wary of estimates that provide no detail and just a dollar figure. This is a concern for two reasons. First, you do not know exactly what you are paying for. Second, it is difficult to compare simple quotes with detailed quotes, making it more difficult to make informed decisions.
Bottom line, don’t be afraid to ask for line by line details so that you know exactly what is involved in the mold removal cost.
Mold Removal Plan Of Action
The Scope of Work provides you with a detailed work plan of what exactly will be done to remove the mold and restore the fungal ecology of your home to healthy levels. Contractors unwilling to provide such a plan should be avoided. If you do not get a written plan, then how do you know if the work was done properly and effectively?
Authorization To Proceed
Thoroughly review the ATP before signing and allowing the work to begin so you are clear on the terms of the service.
What criteria does the professional use to determine the final mold removal cost?
Ultimately, the final removal cost estimate will be determined by three key criteria:
1. How much of the area is infected with mold?
2. What kind of materials are infected?
3. How easy is it to access the mold?
Answers to the above questions will enable the contractor to provide you with an estimate. Typical household mold removal projects will range from $2,000 to $6,000 depending on the answers to the questions above. It should be noted, however, that there is no set rule for mold removal cost because it tends to be situation and market specific. Because of this, the cost can range from a low of $500 up to $30,000, which is a significant variance.
Since there is no easy answer to the “Mold Removal Cost” question it is imperative that you, the consumer, invest time in due diligence, ask prospective contractors questions, check references, and thoroughly review the documentation that you receive.
There is no easy answer to this question because every situation is different and this is the reason we specifically advise that you compare quotes from at least three companies.
Most importantly, think long term and choose the company that you think will do the best job, even if their price is higher. Reputable mold remediation professionals may cost more, but ultimately, you get what you are paying for and the long term benefits of getting the job done right the first time will save you from future costs and headaches.
Mold B Gone offers a guarantee on our services. If you have a mold concern and have questions, please call us, (470) 545-4467, or send us an e-mail.
How Is #Mold Removal Cost Determined?: Have a mold concern, wondering what it will cost to remove? This article provides you with a detailed explanation of how mold removal cost is determined!
