If you have a mold problem in your home, it could also be in your air ducts. This is why it is very important that you have your air ducts cleaned so you can be sure. If not, mold spores will easily get into your home each time your HVAC unit is running. The mold spores will continue to grow and then you would have an even bigger problem. Below is some information about cleaning your air ducts that you should find helpful.

Determining If You Have Mold

If you want to be completely sure that you have mold in your air ducts, you should hire a mold remediation and testing company to check for you. This can save you a lot of money as if there is no mold and you hire someone to clean your ducts it may get expensive.

Cleaning the Duct Work

You can try to clean the duct work on your own, but because you have mold you should hire a professional HVAC contractor (like Elite Heating, Cooling and Plumbing) to do this for you. They will start at the plenum, which is where the air ducts come out from. The plenum is a large box that is attached to the HVAC. The contractor will use a powerful, large hose to clean the opening of the plenum.

Once the plenum is cleaned, the contractor will start cleaning the duct work. They will first turn off the HVAC unit and close all air registers inside the home. An air powered brush or whip is fed through the duct to loosen mold spores, along with any dirt and debris that may be inside them, until the brush or whip reaches the plenum. The brush is removed and then a powerful vacuum with a long hose is placed inside the ductwork to suck up the loose mold spores and debris.

Cleaning the Evaporator Coils

Once the duct work is cleaned, the contractor will thoroughly clean the evaporator coils on the HVAC system. This is because the coils collect moisture and dust over time, which is the perfect breeding ground for mold to grow. If there is mold, as the air blows over the coils it picks up the mold and then it will come out of the air vents inside your home when the HVAC unit is running.

If the contractor finds that the mold in your duct work is very bad, they will likely suggest that you replace all of your duct work.