HVAC Problems and Recommendations Needed

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone. I need some

professional recommendations and/or referral in SW Houston, TX

for an HVAC specialist.

Dealing with 2 story house, 2 a/c and

furnace (gas) systems, built in 1983, mold was found in air ducts and plenum. HVAC

system twice yearly maintenance. April Air Model 2200 for both units in

attic. NADCA certified HVAC System company called. Home owner is

reactive to mold and has multiple chemical sensitivities. Based on their

recommendations and using their recommended HVAC company:

HVAC

technician/owner removed duct board transitions and plenums, installed

sheetmetal transitions and plenums externally insulated, installed 8x8

inspection panels. Changed out all air ducts second story.

Limited access to downstairs air ducts, changed out only the two in master

bathroom and 2 bedroom.

NADC

company came out next day, cleaned coils and furnace, cleaned

original air ducts, replaced all downstairs vent can insulation, fogged

with BBJ

After

they left, A/C turned on A/C, horrid stench came out of office air

registered. Opened it and noticed air duct had visible mold, coil pain in

attic had mold. Took pictures, Air duct company came back out, redid

the air duct cleaning and fogged again with BBJ and cleaned coils again.

New

fiberglass insulation improperly installed, fiberglass was blowing into

living areas, floors, furniture. Eyes and throat very

irritated. Fiberglass insulation is loose, in layers and hanging

down into the air ducts plus still moldy, stale odor coming out of air

ducts downstairs. Upstairs is clean air.

Air

duct company called, owner came out, agreed the fiberglass insulation

improperly installed and plans to tape it up. No idea why the mold

odor other than possibly the trunkline in dining area (3 air registers,

one air duct supplying them, yellow old fiberglass insulation still dirty

after 2 HEPA vac). Air duct owner suggested coating the fiberglass

insulation in the trunkline with 40-30. Since homeowner has

MCS, phoned who advised against this. BBJ does not have

sealant. The trunkline also connects to one kitchen air duct. BBJ

recommended mini-split system (too expensive since kitchen, living,

dining, guest bath, office and study has the existing air ducts which

couldn’t be replaced) or tearing out walls and replacing the air

ducts.

Air

duct company will come out this Wednesday, tape up the fiberglass

insulation in cans (13), HEPA vac the trunkline and that’s all.

HVAC

Technician called, he suggested Lenox pure air system to remove the stale,

moldy odor from air ducts. Phoned Lenox and was told the Pure Air

System will not address the odor in air ducts and would be waste of

money.

Any suggestions would be appreciated and a

referral for local expert.

Thanks,

Rosie Lloyd

[Guest guest]

Most a/c ducts have mold growing potiential at some level during the

cooling season. Consider that the a/c coil is retaining 4-6 lbs. of

moisture at the end of each cooling cycle. During the off cycle, the

coil is humidifying the air in the duct. When the a/c t-stat

restarts the cooling cycle, the air leaving the coil is 95%RH. As a

result, the air in the supply side of the a/c system is +95% RH for

much of the summer. Anyone supprised to find mold growing in this

part of ducting. I suggest that the fan on the a/c ducts operate

continuously for several hours every day to thoroughly dry the duct.

Drying is a method of interupting the mold growing cycle. Drying the

ducts means that the home will have a higher %RH but that the ducts

will be drier. Some are using a whole house dehumidifier to dry the

ducts during the a/c off cycle. This also provides <50%RH in the

ducts and home during low/no cooling load weather. Whatever you do,

having any space +80-90% for an extended time assures mold growth.

Carpeting on concrete also requires <50%RH in the air to avoid

mold/dust mite growth. Fresh air to purge pollutants/renew oxygen

and <50%RH are the most critical issues for indoor air quality.

Regards Ken Gehring.

>

> Hi everyone. I need some professional recommendations and/or

referral in SW

> Houston, TX for an HVAC specialist.

>

>

>

> Dealing with 2 story house, 2 a/c and furnace (gas) systems, built

in 1983,

> mold was found in air ducts and plenum. HVAC system twice yearly

> maintenance. April Air Model 2200 for both units in attic. NADCA

> certified HVAC System company called. Home owner is reactive to

mold and has

> multiple chemical sensitivities. Based on their recommendations

and using

> their recommended HVAC company:

>

>

>

> 1. HVAC technician/owner removed duct board transitions and

plenums,

> installed sheetmetal transitions and plenums externally insulated,

installed

> 8x8 inspection panels. Changed out all air ducts second story.

Limited

> access to downstairs air ducts, changed out only the two in master

bathroom

> and 2 bedroom.

> 2. NADC company came out next day, cleaned coils and furnace,

cleaned

> original air ducts, replaced all downstairs vent can insulation,

fogged with

> BBJ

> 3. After they left, A/C turned on A/C, horrid stench came out of

office

> air registered. Opened it and noticed air duct had visible mold,

coil pain

> in attic had mold. Took pictures, Air duct company came back out,

redid the

> air duct cleaning and fogged again with BBJ and cleaned coils again.

> 4. New fiberglass insulation improperly installed, fiberglass was

> blowing into living areas, floors, furniture. Eyes and throat very

> irritated. Fiberglass insulation is loose, in layers and hanging

down into

> the air ducts plus still moldy, stale odor coming out of air ducts

> downstairs. Upstairs is clean air.

> 5. Air duct company called, owner came out, agreed the fiberglass

> insulation improperly installed and plans to tape it up. No idea

why the

> mold odor other than possibly the trunkline in dining area (3 air

registers,

> one air duct supplying them, yellow old fiberglass insulation still

dirty

> after 2 HEPA vac). Air duct owner suggested coating the fiberglass

> insulation in the trunkline with 40-30. Since homeowner has

MCS,

> phoned who advised against this. BBJ does not have

sealant. The

> trunkline also connects to one kitchen air duct. BBJ recommended

mini-split

> system (too expensive since kitchen, living, dining, guest bath,

office and

> study has the existing air ducts which couldn't be replaced) or

tearing out

> walls and replacing the air ducts.

> 6. Air duct company will come out this Wednesday, tape up the

> fiberglass insulation in cans (13), HEPA vac the trunkline and

that's all.

> 7. HVAC Technician called, he suggested Lenox pure air system to

remove

> the stale, moldy odor from air ducts. Phoned Lenox and was told

the Pure

> Air System will not address the odor in air ducts and would be

waste of

> money.

>

>

>

> Any suggestions would be appreciated and a referral for local

expert.

>

>

>

> Thanks,

>

> Rosie Lloyd

>