Expert Mold Inspections & Environmental Testing in Doylestown, PA

In the case of proper cleaning, there is no evidence that such cleaning would be detrimental. Cleaning air ducts might seem like a sensible idea because air ducts accumulate dust and dirt over time, so they should be cleaned occasionally.

According to the NFPA, your dryer vent should be cleaned annually or unless you find yourself running your dryer more frequently, a burning smell or the dryer is hot to the touch. In these instances, call right away for a dryer vent cleaning.

Molds are typically easy to see. However, while they are invisible, you will notice their stench in the air or certain symptoms in family members or pets. Most of the time, you can smell mold in air ducts or vents before you can see it because of the stench. As a result, if your heating and cooling units (if they share ducts) start to have a moldy or musty smell anytime you are not using your air conditioning unit, mold is likely growing in your HVAC system. Watch out for the apparent mold as it appears around AC vents, in ductwork, and in drip pans. Condenser coils are the ideal place for mold to grow since they draw moisture from the air and into drip pans. This is especially true if they become clogged. Last but not least, mold in air ducts is one potential explanation when residents or animals start displaying symptoms including headaches, nausea, sore throat, and itchy eyes whenever the air conditioner is on. Please not that mold exposure is very dangerous and can cause health issues like allergic reactions, runny nose, and other respiratory issues.

While some common mold growth may be recognizable to most homeowners, black mold often goes unnoticed in HVAC systems due to its dust-like appearance. The air vents around your home may attract some general dust, but if you notice the dust getting much darker or having a soot-like color, it may be black mold.

If you decide on an air-sanitizing UV light, your installation technician should position it within your ductwork near the HVAC system. There, the lamp affects the air before it circulates through your home. If you prefer a coil-sanitizing UV light, it will sit close to the AC evaporator coil. There, it affects mold and bacteria that accumulate on the damp coil, keeping your system clean and operating smoothly.