3 Ways to Keep Your HVAC System From Getting Moldy
Mold is both microscopic and ubiquitous, making it an extremely hard germ to detect and avoid without being overly sensitive to it. Even worse, it can invade your HVAC equipment and render the air inside your home unhealtYou can get rid of existing mold colonies through remediation such as duct cleaning. The trick, however, is to keep new mold spores from reproducing. Below are effective ways to keep their number to a minimum, especially within your heating and cooling system.
Keep Room Temperatures Below 77°F
There are three elements that must be present for mold to grow: organic matter, moisture and warmth. All of these are controllable, especially the last one.
Usually, mold thrives anywhere between 77°F and 86°F. By combating excessive humidity at home and moderating your house’s indoor temperature, you can effectively discourage mold growth.
Change Out Damp Filters
The filter is one of the most important components of your forced-air heating and cooling system. It’s meant to get dirty since its primary role is to prevent pollutants from getting into your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump.
But when your air filter becomes infested by mold, you should replace it ASAP. This maintenance task holds true even if you just changed the filter recently.
Don’t stop at filter replacement, though. It’s just as important to address the reason why the filter became damp in the first place. Otherwise, you may end up dealing with the same problem sooner than expected.
Disinfect With Ultraviolet Light
Germs are so small that they can pass through the gaps in the air filter. To keep them from getting out of your heating and cooling system alive, install UV lamps. Although ultraviolet light has no effect on pet dander, hair or dust, among other allergens, it’s deadly to mold spores (and bacteria).
Keep Your HVAC in Palo Alto Mold-Free
Let Palo Alto Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning ensure that your HVAC system remains free of mold at all times. Call us at (650) 856-3400 today to set up an appointment to give your heating and cooling system a much-needed professional checkup.
