Mold growth is a huge concern in a home for numerous reasons. Not only can mold growth detract from the appearance of a home's interior, but it can also cause odor issues and even lead to severe health problems over time.
Fortunately, there are numerous HVAC maintenance practices that a homeowner can keep up on to ensure that mold growth won't become a problem. The following are five important HVAC maintenance practices that can prevent mold growth
Changing filters on schedule
A clogged or dirty filter can detract from the interior air quality of a home. A clean air filter can not only filter dust and dirt from a home's air, but can even minimize humidity issues.
Filters that are so clogged that they prevent proper air flow can lead to moisture and humidity issues over time. These issues can eventually cause mold growth. Regularly changing filters on HVAC equipment is one of the most important ways to reduce mold growth in a home.
Being attentive to coils and drain pans
The coils of an AC unit work to keep humidity out of a home's air. However, normal functioning of coils will cause condensate moisture to drip into drain pans. Therefore, the drain pan of an AC unit needs to be regularly emptied to prevent excess moisture and an increased risk for mold growth in AC equipment.
Keeping cooling towers in optimal operating condition
A significant culprit when it comes to mold growth in HVAC equipment is sediment accumulation in cooling towers.
Homeowners need to take care to monitor both chemical treatments and water quality in cooling towers to prevent indoor air quality issues that could spread mold spores and lead to mold growth throughout a home.
Cleaning ducts
If ducts are not regularly cleaned, duct linings can become excessively moist. If duct linings are subjected to moisture over the long term, they can be subject to condensation and moisture damage. This moisture damage will lead to mold and mildew growth if left unchecked.
Paying attention to air intake vents
When it comes to preventing moisture issues in a home's HVAC system, it's important to monitor the intake vents that are located on a building's exterior. HVAC equipment needs to have adequate access to exterior air to operate effectively, and clogs on exterior vents can prevent access to exterior air.
It's especially important to provide regular maintenance for exterior vents that are located near dumpsters, stagnant water, or disturbed vegetation to prevent moisture issues from leading to mold growth in a home.
Share20 October 2016
Hi there, my name is Shelley. Welcome to my site about electric heating systems. Electric heat has recently fallen out of favor due to the efficiency of natural gas systems. Electric heat is still suitable for small buildings that do not need the high temps provided by upgraded systems. I will use this site to explore all of the building types that can benefit from electric heating systems. I will also share information about system components, installations and repairs. I welcome you to come by often to learn more about this exciting topic. Thanks for coming by. See you soon.