How Your Air Ducts Facilitate Mold Infestations
Posted in Mold Removal, on November 06, 2024
Air ducts are the main component of your home that helps facilitate airflow. However, they can also become an ideal site for mold growth. Indoor air quality, your health, and your HVAC system can suffer from the mold inside air ducts. Understanding why mold tends to thrive in ducts and knowing how to prevent it is important for any homeowner that wants to maintain a safe and healthy home. If you are living with mold in your house or suspect that it may be lurking in your ducts, then call Canada's Restoration Services for expert mold removal in Toronto. We will ensure that the mold removal costs are well worth it with our effective techniques and experienced team. Contact us today!
Why Mold Grows in Air Ducts
Air ducts may seem like an odd place for mold to grow; however, they do foster favourable conditions for mold growth. The only things that mold needs to reproduce are moisture and a food source. Warm temperatures can also help speed up the growth process. Ducts can provide all three:
- Moisture: High indoor humidity can result in condensation within your air ducts. This almost always occurs when warm air hits cold surfaces, particularly during the cooling cycles of your AC. Oftentimes, this moisture may just remain inside your ducts, making conditions perfect for mold to grow.
- Temperature: Mold growth is common between 15 and 26 degrees Celsius; although mold can grow at many temperatures, this range is ideal. Your ducts pass through all areas of your home, all of which will fall between the ideal range and be conducive to condensation and mold growth.
- Food Source: Ducts, while manufactured from materials such as metal and plastic, still manage to collect dust, skin cells, and other organic matter. This provides a food source for mold to multiply and spread.
Signs of Mold in Your Ducts
Mold in air ducts can remain invisible for quite a time until it starts affecting indoor air quality. Here are the general signs you are likely to observe:
- Musty Smell: The musty or earthy smell emanating from your ducts is the most common indication of mold in your air ducts. It often gets worse with time.
- Health Issues: If health problems appear to exist among the people at home, such as respiratory issues like coughing, sneezing, or sinus congestion appearing to clear up when away from your home, mold may be suspected as the cause of it.
- Visible Mold: Sometimes, you can even see mold spores growing on vents or duct openings. When you see any dark or fuzzy patches, it's time to call for removal.
If you have noticed any of these signs, now is a great time to receive a professional mold inspection from Canada's Restoration Services!
How Mold in Air Ducts Affects Health
Mold growth in air ducts is not only an eyesore, but it is also dangerous to health. Mold spores can spread very easily and quickly when your air ducts are infected with them. When they are inhaled, they can take a toll on your respiratory system and cause illness and even mild toxicity. Exposure to mold causes respiratory illnesses, cognitive issues, allergy/flu symptoms, breathing issues, skin and eye irritation, fatigue and much more. Serious mold-related health problems are more likely to occur among young children, elderly people, and people suffering from asthma or allergies. Symptoms often include persistent coughing, sinusitis, headaches, and even serious respiratory infections. Untreated mold can lead to even more serious health issues in the future. Having mold-related symptoms on a regular basis can seriously reduce your and your family’s quality of life. This is why swift removal is so prudent.
Safeguard Your Air Ducts with Mold Removal in Toronto
Air ducts are one of the prime places for mold to grow due to the way they create ideal conditions for growth; however, knowing how mold is developed and spreads might provide ways for you to avoid it. Keeping your HVAC in good condition, keeping the humidity low, and having clean ducts will go quite a long way in safeguarding the quality of air in your home. If you are worried that mold may begin to develop in your air ducts, do not hesitate to call Canada's Restoration Services for mold removal in Toronto. At Canada's Restoration Services, our staff of professionals offers in-depth examination and removal to ensure that you are getting great value out of your investment in mold removal costs.
Contact us today to book!