HVAC related mold

[Guest guest]

Stacey,

When you mentioned that mold was on the a/c vent, I assumed that you have

a central HVAC system, not a window unit. Both types of systems, often sold

for their health benefits, have a tendency to do just the opposite when not

properly designed, installed, or maintained. Hopefully, you will be able to

access your HVAC unit and check inside. The first critical thing is

obviously the filter. These should not be fiberglass, but at least a pleated

paper filter to prevent dust and spores from getting into the system.

Next, look to see if the drain pan is draining properly. If not, check why

not. Perhaps it was simply not positioned properly. Perhaps the drain line

is plugged. If so, mold is a likely cause, particularly since you have

visible mold on the vent. A little dilute Clorox poured into the pan may

slowly open the drain line. Of course, forcing a wire through the blockage

will also help.

Next clean the cooling coils with detergent solution, rinse well, and

spray a little dilute Clorox on them. That may solve your problem. Turn the

AC on and leave for 3-4 hours, as the Clorox odor is irritating.

Problems may be visible on the vent covers, but actually grow where

relative humidity is highest, and that is at the cooling coils. At the

temperature there, relative humidity is 100%. That's why water drips out and

air conditioners dehumidify. A little water blows off as an aerosol, and

should simply re-evaporate. However, if there is porous material inside,

that may absorb the droplets. Coupled with dust and mold spores, a mold

garden can develop. This is sometimes a problem with unlined fiberglass

ductboard. The problem is worst in the first few feet, but can sometimes

extend all the way to the outlets. This ductwork cannot be satisfactorily

cleaned, and is sometimes made worse by attempts to clean it with spinning

brush duct cleaners. All ductwork with porous inside should be replaced with

ducts smooth on the inside. A possible good choice is steel made by AK Steel

specifically for ventilation systems, with an anti-microbial coating (Agion

Technology).

A word about testing. It is an expensive ordeal and usually unnecessary.

Several species are usually found, and most have the capability to aggravate

asthma or other allergies, and may even be the initial cause of asthma.

Gil

Date: Fri, 20 Sep 2002 07:40:00 -0700 (PDT)

From: stacey yates <mackinj2001@...>

Subject: Re: Toxic Mold

Jeannie Aich,

My name is Stacey, and my family I live in Dallas. About a week and a half

ago I noticed this dark green and black mold covering my 19mth old daughters

a/c vent. My husband informed the apartment complex that we live in for the

maintenance to come by and look at it and say " yep, that's mold, I'll have

to get a specialist out here. After pulling our daughter out of her room

into ours, 4 days passed, before we heard anything from our apartments. They

sent a so-called specialist out (a carpet cleaner specialist) out to remove

it. He never tested to see if could harm us in any way, nor did the

apartments take the proper steps for remediation. By the way, My daughter

has asthma. They never checked for a moisture problem that could have caused

the mold nor checked in the HVAC System. I am very disgusted in the way

things were handled. Please help for I don't know what to do, Advice would

be very helpful. Thank You.

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