The easiest way to tell if there is mold in your air ducts and air vents is to look.
What does mold in air vents look like.
They can grow on the metal of the vent itself or in the roof floor or wall that it sits on.
Symptoms to watch for.
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.
You may also be able to see the presence of mold around drip pans air ducts and within intake vents.
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.
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.
Mold in air vents.
Common causes of black mold in air vents.
Mold in air ducts most commonly occurs when there is moisture inside the ductwork.
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.
Look for the first signs of mold around ac vents in the ducts and in the drip pans.
Most often if there is mold growing you ll be able to see visible spores on or around the vent.
The symptoms may vary from person to person and can also depend on the length of exposure and the amount of spores inhaled.
You can see the same principle at work when you drink an icy beverage and water beads up on the outside of the glass.
Those mold spores can make you sick.
Common symptoms and health problems caused by black mold may include.
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.
As cool air flows through the vents on hot days the moisture in the air can condense inside the air vent.
In addition mold may appears as spots or different colors and it often has a distinct odor.
When the heat or air conditioning is turned on hundreds of thousands of mold spores blow out into the house.
Take a good look and a good whiff at the vent.