Mold is among the most common issues that households encounter when cleaning. Mold is a fungus that isn’t only disgusting to stare at but can also be very hazardous to residents. Worse still, it’s challenging to detect and can develop rapidly if not effectively removed.
Most molds typically thrive in moist, dim locations and areas with lower temperatures than the entire house. They can grow anywhere within your home, even on standard household equipment.
Air conditioning units, especially the ducts and vents assisting the circulation of air to various areas of a house, are susceptible to mold infestation because they have a lot of moisture and are usually wet. Mold may develop quickly in air conditioning systems and make it difficult for homeowners to tame it due to the AC’s design.
Further, the temperatures in these systems are considerably lower than the entire house, creating a perfect environment for mold to develop and spread. To effectively address mold growth in the ventilation ducts, restoration companies in the Houston area can help mitigate the situation.
But first, you must understand the many kinds of molds that may appear in your duct and their visible characteristics, as listed below.
-
Acremonium Mold
Acremonium is a toxin-producing mold that looks like a white powdery material as it grows. It is among the most prevalent molds in moist and wet environments or water locations.
-
Alternaria Mold
The Alternaria mold has a green or brown velvet kind of surface. It’s among the most prevalent molds. Further, it can develop anywhere as long as the water is present for an extended period. As such, it is uncommon to see it in air vents and ducts.
-
Aspergillus Niger Mold
Due to the various shapes that Aspergillus may assume, it’s among the most challenging molds to identify. It can occur in multiple hues, with the most frequent being greenish, whitish, or yellowish.
-
Chaetomium Mold
Chaetomium mold has a dark material with a feel similar to cotton. This mold’s color changes with time; hence it’s difficult to detect or differentiate. Molds of this nature can sprout on walls, although they may also grow in air vents and ducts.
-
Fusarium Mold
Fusarium fungus is a kind of mold mainly growing on water-damaged wallings as well as other surfaces. At the same time, it can develop in ventilation ducts if they have any water damage.
-
Mucor Mold
Mucor is a frequent kind of mold that occurs in air conditioning units and air ducts. It is a fungus that causes a variety of health issues, most notably in the lungs. When inhaled, it may induce asthma or exacerbate existing asthma symptoms.
Mucor may also make it harder to breathe and produce flu-like signs such as fever and lethargy. You should always mitigate a mucor infestation as soon as possible due to the looming danger it poses.
-
Stachybotrys Chartarum Mold
Stachybotrys is among the most frequent kinds of molds discovered in homes. It appears as a black material that multiplies quickly with time. Although this mold type is quite simple to detect, it’s a hazardous type that develops in the air ducts and vents.
-
Trichoderma Fungus Mold
The Trichoderma type of mold develops in continuously damp or moist environments. And that’s why it’s common in ventilation systems. This kind of mold resembles spores and may quickly increase, posing a long-term danger to your property.
-
Ulocladium Mold
Ulocladium kinds of mold are common in air ventilation systems. But it’s uncommon in comparison to the ones mentioned above. Most often, the Ulocladium develops within the apertures of kitchens and bathrooms, where it looks like a solid black material. Moreover, it’s one of the most challenging kinds of mold to remove; hence you should always consult expert services for it.
-
Penicillin Mold
Penicillin is an allergic mold that can also grow in the ventilation system. Even though pharmacists use it to manufacture antibiotics, penicillin fungi can be very harmful if inhaled. It can cause severe respiratory problems. You can identify it by a green or velvet blue surface that is tinted.
It’s primarily prevalent in water-damaged houses and can also thrive on surfaces like carpets, wallpapers, beds, ducting, among other places.
Due to the extreme risks of handling any type of mold, it’s essential to take precautions and always consult for the services of professional duct cleaners.
Expert mold removal firms are an effective way to contact mold because they can detect and handle mold issues in the most effective ways.