Mold. In some cases it’s extremely useful. There’s no telling how many lives have been saved by Penicillium rubens, and we are grateful to Penicillium roqueforti for making delicious blue cheese. The vast majority of other molds are totally harmless, although a select few are anything but. These include:
- Acremonium, which is known to cause arthritis, endocarditis, pneumonia, and other infections
- Chaetomium, which is known to cause sinusitis, pulmonary infections, and neurological complications
- Mucor, which is known to cause thrombosis, osteomyelitis, and the horrifyingly named “necrotizing fasciitis”
- Stachybotrys, which is known to cause pulmonary hemorrhage, rhinitis, and neurological issues
- Trichoderma, which is known to cause infections of the skin, brain, liver and other organs
Unfortunately, these types of mold aren’t just harmful to human health. They are all capable of colonizing and flourishing inside ventilation ducts as well!
Why is that? Because air ducts provide all three environmental conditions mold species “like.” These are:
- Darkness, which safeguards mold against the sun’s natural UV light
- Moisture, which mold needs in order to grow reproductive spores
- Warmth, which turns moisture into humidity that mold absorbs more easily
It is good that we know what mold likes. By depriving it of these conditions, it is relatively easy to prohibit its growth. Here are just some of the ways you can prevent mold from growing inside your air ducts.
- Install a UV light in your HVAC system. UV light doesn’t just destroy mold’s DNA (the molecule it requires for all biological processes, including reproduction). It also does so without harmful chemicals or any other adverse health effects to a home’s human or animal occupants.
- Install a whole house dehumidifier in your HVAC system. According to the EPA, mold thrives best wherever relative humidity is higher than 60%. A whole house humidifier will reliably keep your indoor humidity beneath that threshold.
- Prevent moisture from infiltrating your home. This includes keeping your gutters in good condition, ensuring that the land surrounding your home is graded correctly, and making certain your air conditioner’s condensate drain line remains unobstructed. You may also wrap cold water pipes in insulation to prevent them from accumulating condensation.
Duct Cleaning: Because Mold Prevention Isn’t Enough
Do you know what a “cleanroom” is? It is a sterile, highly controlled environment where pharmaceuticals, computer chips, or other sensitive goods are manufactured. A state-of-the-art cleanroom costs millions of dollars and requires round-the-clock management. But despite all that care and attention, cleanrooms still get invaded by mold.
All of this is to say that you cannot totally prevent mold from growing inside your air ducts – but you can remove it by hiring a local duct cleaning service. When it’s done correctly, duct cleaning eliminates nearly all of the mold living inside ducts. That’s why it’s crucial to have your ducts professionally cleaned every 3 to 7 years. It helps you breathe easier. It helps prevent serious diseases. It helps you rest assured that gross fungus isn’t slowly taking over your home!
Would you like to schedule duct cleaning in the Beresford, Sioux Falls, and surrounding areas? Then we encourage you to contact Dan’s Drain & Duct Cleaning today!
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