Looking is the best way to determine if mold is present and growing in your AC ducts. Tony Abate, vice president and chief technology officer at AtmosAir Solutions in Fairfield, Connecticut, offers the following advice:
“Aside from looking into the ducts and seeing black or green growth, you may see some black spotting around your supply register,” says Abate, who is a certified mold inspector. “If you see black spotting around your supply register, try dabbing it with some bleach. If the spot quickly diminishes, it is likely viable mold which is coming from inside the ducts.”
If the mold is visible, taking a sample of the mold usually isn’t necessary, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but it’s time to call in the professionals.
“I would strongly recommend not to,” says Abate, when asked whether tackling mold issues in AC ducts can be a DIY project.
Professional Remediation
While DIY mold removal in some cases is OK if the area is small, mold in ductwork presents different challenges. Many parts of your HVAC and ductwork systems may not be accessible for easy cleaning and mold remediation.
Professional mold remediation in AC ductwork starts with turning off the system and not operating it until the mold is removed and the system is decontaminated. The next step is to isolate the system to avoid spreading mold during the cleanup process.
During remediation, wet insulation surrounding ductwork will require replacement, as cleaning it is ineffective. Other steps may include air duct cleaning, HEPA-filter vacuuming, and eliminating the water source to prevent future mold growth.
The cost of mold remediation from AC ducts will depend on the severity of the problem, but typical project costs can vary from $3,000 to $5,000 or more.
You can find out more about air duct cleaning costs in our guide.
DIY Removal
While the EPA states that DIY mold cleanup is possible if the area is smaller than 10 square feet, Abate cautions against it. “Mold spores in the ducts, if not properly cleaned and contained, can spread to other areas of your home and cause future mold issues. This can potentially turn a small problem into a large one.”
However, an understanding of the process of mold remediation in AC ducts is good to have.
Protective Gear Needed
You, or, better yet, your mold remediation contractor will use a host of personal protective equipment (PPE) to help stay safe when working around mold infestations large and small. PPE requirements for mold cleanup include protective gloves, goggles, and respirators. While minimum PPE requirements may suffice for small cleanups, as the job gets larger, the protection, too, must increase by using more robust PPE.
Tools Needed
In addition to PPE, a long list of tools is typically necessary for full remediation of mold in AC ducts. This can include moisture and humidity meters, a borescope (this has a camera to see difficult-to-see places), a wet-dry vacuum with a HEPA filter, demolition and reconstruction tools and materials, and other tools depending on the scope of the work appropriate for the infestation.
How To Remove Mold From AC Ductwork and Vents
There are several steps to performing mold removal and remediation from AC ductwork and vents. Professionals have multiple methods for containing and cleaning up the mold, depending on the severity and the specifics of the project.
The first step is to turn off the HVAC system and contain it. Assessing the problem is often the next step to determine the best course of action. Containment involves sealing ducts and vents with plastic and tape and creating a negative air pressure situation with fans or other methods. During or before mold remediation, identifying and repairing the water source that’s causing the mold growth is crucial.
Insulation surrounding ductwork that’s wet will require replacement. Other surfaces within the HVAC system may be cleaned with a detergent solution and dried immediately afterward. Places that can be cleaned with a vacuum will require the use of a HEPA filter vacuum.
How To Make Sure You Removed All of the Mold
Mold spores occur naturally in the environment and our homes. There simply isn’t a way to remove all of the mold from a home. The goal of mold remediation is to stop the growth of mold rather than its existence. To help ensure the mold problem in your AC ducts doesn’t return, it’s crucial to eliminate any water or condensation sources that can cause mold growth.