Indoor Air Quality Home Page EPA's Natural Disasters and Weather Emergencies Emergency Preparedness for Indoor Environments Molds are part of the natural environment, and can be found everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Mold is not usually a problem, unless it begins growing indoors. The best way to control mold growth is to control moisture. This website provides guidance about mold and moisture for homes, schools, multifamily and commercial buildings. Molds can have a big impact on indoor air quality. Ten Things You Should Know Mold Testing or Sampling Frequent Questions about Mold Mold Publications (En Español) Find Local Help and Resources En Español - Acerca del mohoAir ducts offer mold a moist, warm environment. It is a challenge to keep mold under control, especially if you live in a climate with high humidity and frequent rainfall. Air ducts are a particularly happy place for mold because they are often warm and damp, the two conditions most conducive to mold.

Mold spores start to grow in a damp environment any time the temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit, no matter how clean you keep your air ducts. If there is enough mold present in your air ducts to have a noticeable odor, it is best to remove it immediately. Identification Mold generally appears as a cluster of small spots spread out on a wall or the inside of an air duct. These spots can be any color, including black, brown, green, orange, pink or white. Sometimes the surface where the mold is will look and feel slimy. Spray a bit of bleach on suspected mold. If it fades in color or vanishes, it is most likely mold rather than dust or dirt. Mold also has an earthy, dank smell. Effects Mold spores can irritate your lungs if you inhale them. The United States Environmental Protection Agency cautions that while most people can live with a small bit of mold in their home, it can cause allergic reactions and worsen asthma symptoms in many people, including young children, the elderly, pregnant women and anyone with a compromised immune system.

There is only one kind of mold that is truly toxic. It is called Stachybotrys, and it is black and slimy with white edges. Stachybotrys usually appears in buildings that have been flooded and stayed wet for at least a week, so if a mold-removal service claims that you have dangerous black mold in your air ducts, insist on seeing laboratory tests proving it. Removal Wear protective gear when you deal with mold, including a dust mask, goggles, long sleeves and gloves. air purifier noisyThe most effective way to clean mold out of air ducts is to use detergent or soap that does not contain ammonia. air purifier best allergiesOnce you scrub away the mold and let the surface of the air duct dry, North Dakota State University recommends wiping down the duct with a solution of 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of bleach and 1 gallon of water. air purifier ahmedabad

Do not use an ozone cleaner to remove mold because, according to the Virginia Department of Health, they release unsafe levels of ozone and are not effective. Prevention The best way to prevent mold is to make sure that your air ducts are kept clean and that there is no source of moisture that shouldn’t be there. Inefficient weather-proofing, leaking pipes or improperly vented bathroom, kitchen and dryer fans can all contribute to mold. Lower the humidity in bathroom and kitchens by opening windows or using fans. Vent the fans to the outdoors, not up into your attic. While central heating and air systems are a godsend in the hot summer months and on cold winter nights, they can become a nuisance when they spread a musty odor throughout the house. After a few hours, you may find yourself asking, "can I clean my air ducts myself?" The answer is a qualified yes. CausesBefore you can begin to tackle the problem of the smell from your ducts you have to determine what might be causing it.

One of the most common causes of a musty smell in ductwork is the presence of mold in an air conditioner. The mold will grow on both the condenser coils and in the collection pan.Another common issue could be with any of the ductwork that runs through a crawl space beneath the house. If the crawl space becomes flooded, this is a perfect environment for mold growth.If the smell isn’t musty and falls into the more rancid category, you may have a dead animal on your hands. Often, a mouse or other small critter can chew a hole and crawl into the ductwork. If it dies in there, you will inevitably smell the rotting remains. Cleaning Air Conditioning UnitsCleaning your air conditioning unit is one possible way to eliminate the musty smell from your ductwork. To clean the condenser coils and collection pan, you’ll need a solution of 10% bleach water. This is enough to kill off the mold without doing any damage to the coil system. Most central air units have an access panel on the back.

Take this off to expose the metal fins in front of the condenser coils. Using your vacuum with the attachment brush, suck up any loose dust or debris from the fins and coils. At this point, you can also straighten out any bent fins with a flat head screwdriver or a fin comb, which can be purchased at most appliance stores. Remove the fins — they will be held on with four to eight hex screws. Now spray the bleach solution on the coils and wipe them down. Pull out the collection pan and wipe it down as well. Reassemble the unit and run it to see if that has taken care of the musty smell. Vent FiltersIf the smell wasn’t coming from the air conditioning unit, then it may be coming from any part of the duct system. It may be impossible to find the cause without a snaking camera system. The next best thing is to eliminate the smell is with duct filter pads. These hypoallergenic filter pads are available at most home improvement stores and are made to fit both vertical and horizontal ducts of all sizes.

Simply unscrew your duct vent covers and place the filter pad into the grate. Screw the cover back on and let the filter catch the offending particles. Baking SodaFor more immediate relief, the old stand-by trick of putting a little baking soda in a dish and placing it in the smelly area may work. You’ll have to put the baking soda directly in the duct. This will only work if the baking soda comes in contact with the offensive air particles. So, finding a way to expose more surface area to the air will improve results. Arm and Hammer currently makes a “fridge pack” that has a peel-off side. This will allow you to stand the box up and have a large surface area for the forced air to pass through. Professional Cleaning ServicesIf none of these options have worked or if the smell seems to be coming from a dead animal, you will probably have to contact a professional duct cleaning service. There are plenty of services to choose from. As a general rule, those that offer full household services for under $100 will usually not cover all of the duct work in your home.

Do a bit of research to find a reputable company in your area. Expect to pay at least $150 for a professional cleaning. Can I Clean It Myself?How to get rid of the smell in your ductwork depends on whether it's a musty smell or a rancid one. In the case of a rancid smell, it is almost always better to have a professional take care of the problem. If it is a musty smell you may be able to handle it yourself. In fact, there are plenty of home improvements you can do on your own, but you have to start by finding them. More by this AuthorDrywall & PlasterHow to Texture Drywall: Perlite, Swirl, and Spanish MethodsPutting a professional finish on your walls can be done with some practice and the right tools. Check out these videos for a crash course in DIY wall finishing. Home ImprovementHow to Replace a Load Bearing Porch Column or PostIt doesn't take more than a few hours to replace a porch column. This tutorials will walk you through the process step-by-step and give you tips and tricks on how to prevent some of the more common errors that occur...