Ductwork Mold: How does it get there?

8/30/2017 (Permalink)

DUCTWORK MOLD: HOW DOES IT GET THERE?

Here is how it happens…water condenses on the AC coils, and if dust or dirt is on the coils, mold grows. So, if your AC coils are dusty and dirty, it’s pretty much a given.

Also by using cheap fiberglass filters that let dust pass through onto the AC coils, having an air intake in a moldy basement, an over-sized unit, or an in-line humidifier (which is a whole house humidification solution).

By the way, sometimes there is lots of debris in the duct work from the time of construction…sawdust, trash, etc.

Some helpful tips to keep mold from re-growing.

You’ll want to disconnect and remove any attached humidifier.

Install a pleated media filter to protect the newly cleaned (or replaced) AC coils from dust and dirt, this filter looks like an accordion pleat. Change the filter in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. This is the easier route to keep the coils clean. If coils are clean, then even if they get wet, mold won’t grow.Cheap fiberglass filters are really not the way to go, they are pretty useless. Electrostatic or electronic filters can work fine up until they are coated with dust which could be 3 months or 3 hours.

Always make sure it’s the correct filter for your unit and that it fits well. There should be no air by-pass around the filter.