As the saying goes “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and the same rings true for mold prevention. If you’ve already found mold in your house, the first step is removing it (which we do, click here to learn more) and after it’s gone, you can work on preventing it from ever coming back.
Mold Growth in the Ductwork of Your Home
One of the key places to look for mold so you can work on preventing it is in the ductwork of your home. This is a popular spot for mold to hide because it has all the right living conditions – moisture and food. (We never said mold was a picky squatter.)
Mold can grow anywhere that provides food. This includes the furnace and ductwork because moisture can become trapped and build inside. Mold spores feed on the organic dust, dirt, and debris that build up in ducts. Mold spores can also become airborne, and this gives them the ability to enter the ductwork by blowing in from another part of the house. To avoid this there are some key things you need to know about mold prevention.
Mold Prevention
To avoid mold growth in the ductwork of your homes, regular maintenance checks need to be done. This can be as simply as visual spot checks to see if you can find the presence of mold inside the ducts. Mold can vary in its shapes, sizes and colors. It can range from dark green to brown and even to white or pink. It will have a different texture than the surface of your ducts and can be cottony or even slimey.
Your best bet is to contact a professional to inspect and clean your furnace and ductwork. Since the ducts of your home are hard to reach and expert can use special tools which include thermal imaging cameras and borescopes to get into small spaces and look for mold. This will help get a clear picture of where the mold is located.
They also test for moisture levels in your home using a moisture meter. Since moisture is a key ingredient in mold growth, the moisture meter will identify areas that have higher moisture contents and then go from there.
Once the ducts have been cleaned, professionals use a disinfectant spray to help prevent the mold from returning.
Some other tips include keeping an eye on the humidity in your home yourself. You can use a dehumidifier bought at any local hardware store will help lower humidity levels and give less spots for mold to pop up and begin growing.
Regular cleaning in less noticeable areas of your house (like your ductwork) will help with mold prevention. Mold can sneak up quickly so if you’re cleaning on a regular basis, you’re in turn, keeping a close eye on areas where mold might decide to move in.
Too Much to Handle?
If you think you’re mold problem has gotten out of hand or if you just feel overwhelmed with the entire process, we have plenty of people who are willing to help. Feel free to contact us at anytime to ask questions or schedule an inspection.
