What Does Black Mold In Air Vents Look Like

In addition mold may appears as spots or different colors and it often has a distinct odor.

What does black mold in air vents look like.

Take a good look and a good whiff at the vent. You may have black mold in your air ducts if you notice any of the following signs. Mold does have a tendency to grow inside air conditioners that sit unused for a while. Mold in hvac heating ventilation and air conditioning systems like that shown below is particularly problematic because homeowners often don t realize it s there.

According to the cdc the type of mold isn t important. On hot days cool air that flows through the vents will cause the moisture in the air to condense inside the vent. You can see the same principle at work when you drink an icy beverage and water beads up on the outside of the glass. Look for the first signs of mold around ac vents in the ducts and in the drip pans.

One of the first signs that black mold is growing in your air vents is a distinct musty mildew like smell in specific rooms or even throughout your entire home. As cool air flows through the vents on hot days the moisture in the air can condense inside the air vent. Condenser coils pull moisture out of the air and into drip pans and if these become clogged they create the perfect environment for mold to grow. Common causes of black mold in air vents.

Condensation forms in the coils and ducts as cool air circulates through the system creating a habitat for moisture loving mold. If you notice black dust around your air vents this. It is best to go ahead and treat the vent if you see or smell mold without taking steps to determining exactly what type of mold might be present. You may also be able to see the presence of mold around drip pans air ducts and within intake vents.

Air conditioner vents can be breeding grounds for black mold. However when black mold starts growing in your air vents things get a little trickier. When the heat or air conditioning is turned on hundreds of thousands of mold spores blow out into the house. After cleaning the air vent and letting it dry i highly recommend coating the air vent with a sealing spray paint such as kilz which will help prevent new mold growth.

Because of its presence then mold starts to grow. Those mold spores can make you sick. It s likely that mold developed in the unit over the winter and you didn t notice it until you turned. When black mold grows on walls floors carpets and so on it s relatively easy to spot.

Mold spores can be spread through the air so it is no wonder that some can also grow and get stuck in air ducts.