Mold In Your Central Air Conditioning And Getting Sick From It
It’s no secret that mold can grow inside your house, and being exposed to it can cause you to get sick. However, many people don’t know that mold can develop within their AC systems, which can lead to breathing in decay due to it being spread via the air. It doesn’t matter what kind of ventilation system you have, mold can develop within your home, and it can lead to significant problems. Complete HVAC systems are typically found in many modern homes, but this makes it easier for mold to spread. It can quickly spread to everything else once it spreads through the air ducts.
Mold can still grow even if you have a standalone AC because the unit can blow mold spores into the room that it is in. This type of AC isn’t attached to any ducts inside the home, which means the mold is spread differently. For example, if you only have a single AC in one room, then you only have one room to worry about. However, if you have central air, then even the tiniest amount of mold can spread throughout your entire home.
Mold: How Does It Get You Sick
You can see mold when it grows on surfaces, but mold also spreads microscopic spores and can’t be seen, and they spread through the air. In turn, you can breathe the spores in, which can lead to various issues. Some of these problems include coughing, sneeze and more severe issues such as asthma attacks, pneumonia, and bronchitis, to name a few.
Many people end up having allergic reactions when they’re exposed to mold, which is a prevalent allergen. There are several symptoms that an allergic reaction to mold can cause, such as struggling to breathe, breaking out in hives and rashes, to name a few. In most cases, these reactions are only minor, but there are cases in which they can be very serious or even fatal.
Mycotoxins are created from the worst forms of mold, and this toxic substance can cause even more medical issues. Black mold is the most prevalent form of mold that produces this substance. If you’re exposed to black mold, then you might suffer health issues such as eye infections, depression and bleeding of the lungs, to name a few.
The truth is mold can grow just about anywhere inside your home, and it doesn’t matter where it’s located it can cause health issues. However, your chances of getting sick increase when spores are blown around the house. This is how your AC can make you sick.
How To Tell If Your AC Has Mold In It
It’s common for people to not notice that they are being exposed to mold spores. In fact, you might not even know that your AC can make you sick. You could be suffering from your AC and not even realize it.
In many cases, mold in an AC is found during some maintenance being performed. This includes cleaning dust from the AC or replacing its filters. In this case, the owner of the home, AC or a professional HVAC tech may be the one to discover the mold.
Scent is one of the ways to determine if you have mold. If you turn your AC on, you might smell a stale smell or a musty smell. If so, then this may indicate there is mold in your AC or in the nearby areas.
Furthermore, you should search for mold if you’re not feeling well. Being sick has been linked to decay. Check out what the different symptoms of mold exposure are, and if you have several of them, then look for mold.
If you believe your AC contains mold, then the first step to take is to inspect any parts that are visible or areas where you have easy access too, such as filters, coils, and so forth. However, if visible rooms and components that are easy to access are clean, this doesn’t mean there isn’t a mold issue. In fact, mold may be present in shafts or within your ducts.
However, the best way to find out if you have mold is to hire an expert, who can perform tests within your home. Not only can they confirm there is mold, but they can return to your property to help you remove the mold, as well as retest to ensure your home and AC is entirely free of mold. If you want to hire a professional, then you should make sure you find ones that follow specific standards set forth by the American Industrial Hygiene Association or the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
Getting Rid of Mold In AC Systems
If you have a standalone unit, then all you have to do is get rid of it and buy a new one. This solution might be expensive, but it is a quick way to do it. However, with central AC systems, then things are a bit more complex.
You simply cannot just replace your central AC. Even if you do, the chances are the mold has already gotten through the ducts. Remember, mold is often not discovered until later on, when it has been present for quite some time.
The best thing you can do is to hire a professional. They’ll find where the mold is, and then they’ll remove it. Plus, eliminating mold requires special tools and equipment. This is because mold may be present in the ventilation systems, which can be damaged if the mold isn’t removed correctly or if the wrong tools or equipment is used.
The EPA recommends that you hire professionals who stick with standards set by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association. You want to take the time to research different companies and professionals who complies those the NADCA’s standards. Not only that, but you want to hire someone who has an excellent reputation and who has a history of providing work that is of high quality.
Furthermore, hire someone who will return at no cost to you after completing the job, if mold is still present, to remove it once again.
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.