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Got
Allergies or Mold?
Mold, which is commonly called
mildew, and sometimes referred to as “black mold”, is a set of
fungi that produce floppy or powdery growth on surface. These
molds can grow pretty much on anything when moisture is
involved, such as cloth, carpets, leather, wood, sheetrock,
insulation, and food.
Mold, the most common form of fungus, seems to be everywhere. It
grows at high levels indoors and outdoors in homes, buildings,
anywhere there is moisture. The factors that most influence the
distribution of the mold are proper nutrients, temperature,
light, and most important the source of moisture. Even though
light is a factor for mold growth, it is not necessary since
mold can grow with no light, in total darkness.
Most often the first signs of possible mold problems are strange
odors in the home. Since mold commonly results in unseen places,
only the odor of it will be noticed. This does not definitely
mean you have a mold problem, but it should cause you to take
other measures to make sure you can detect it in time. If when
the air conditioning or heater is turned on and there’s a mildew
smell, it could mean you have a mold problem in your Air
Conditioning System.
DUCTWORK/HVAC SYSTEMS
As a result of mold growing where
moisture exists, your HVAC System could get contaminated with
this fungus called mold. Not only could it affect the insulation
of the ductwork, it can grow in a variety of other places. The
other most common places are the evaporator, or cooling coil and
the drain pan. These are located in the air handler by the fan.
The evaporator’s job is to cool the air that goes into the
system and remove any condensation from the air. Due to this,
condensation builds up on the coil itself, causing it to get
mold. The drain pan is located beneath the coil, and collects
the condensation that drips on the coil. Naturally the water in
the drain pan can become the perfect environment for mold
growth, especially if the pan is not sloped. If it is flat, then
the water will stay there, encouraging the mold to grow.
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