How to Prevent Mold in HVAC Systems

Mold can easily grow in an environment that is rich in moisture and organic material, and with temperatures between 32 and 120 degrees. Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can provide such conditions unless you take steps to prevent moisture and “mold food” from accumulating in the system. Below are essential tips to prevent mold in HVAC systems:

• Maintain the drain pans. If the drain pans are not sloped and cleaned regularly, standing water won’t be able to drain through the deep seal trap and will accumulate in the drain pans. The water and microbes in the drain pans will result in mold growth.
• Replace air filters regularly. Wet and dirty air filters are inefficient at trapping mold spores and other contaminants. These particles will contaminate your HVAC system if you don’t change the filters on a regular basis, usually once a month.
• Apply an HVAC mold inhibitor. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered, HVAC-approved mold inhibitors can prevent mold and mildew growth in your HVAC system. The inhibitor should be applied to all the components of your heating and cooling unit following the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Use a disinfectant. Before applying the mold inhibitor to your HVAC system, you need to treat it with a disinfectant first. Look for an EPA-approved disinfectant that is labeled for use in HVAC systems.
• Keep ducts dry. Some ducts in the HVAC system may harbor larger amounts of moisture and mold. Have your HVAC system checked to find which ducts are the most affected. Clean and fix ducts and replace water-damaged components.
• Check the air intakes. Air intakes that are near areas where organic materials accumulate will transport microbes and contaminants into your HVAC system. Make sure to keep the areas below air intakes clean by moving dumpsters, and removing standing water and bird droppings, etc.

Be sure to have the moisture and humidity levels in your home under control. The less moisture you have in the home, the less mold that you’ll have. Check out these tips to control the humidity in homes. For mold remediation service and water removal service, contact your local PuroClean office.