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Your HVAC System and Mold Prevention

Mold is a very dangerous and expensive problem to face in your O’Fallon, MO home. Luckily, there are steps you can take to prevent mold, including using your HVAC system for support. Heating systems do a great job of maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home. However, they can also be used to control relative humidity, which should remain between 35% and 50%. Count on us at Hoff Heating & AC to help with HVAC maintenance, repairs, and upgrades to ensure you can maintain a healthy and comfortable living environment.

The Basics of Mold Growth

For mold to grow and thrive in a home, it must have moisture, organic materials, and warmth. Unfortunately, these three things are usually present in a home. In the wintertime, indoor temperatures are ideal for mold growth. The food sources for mold to grow include dust, wood, and drywall. Moisture can come inside from the outdoors through cracks and gaps, windows, and doors. Our indoor humidity levels also rise when we shower or bathe, cook, clean, and use our washing machine.

Your HVAC system can help control humidity, but it can also cause problems. Mold is likely to grow when humidity levels are too high and condensation forms inside your HVAC system’s ducts and on coils. If you don’t change your filter routinely, this can lead to airflow restriction that prevents moisture control and promotes stagnant air. Dirty filters can also be a breeding ground for mold. Change them every 30 to 90 days. If HVAC drain lines clog, this can cause standing water and high levels of humidity.

We recommend that you schedule routine inspection and maintenance for your HVAC system at least once per year. Ideally, prior to the start of winter when your home is sealed up tight. Some homeowners choose to schedule another appointment prior to the start of spring and summer for an inspection of cooling components.

Using a UV Sterilizing Light

A UV-sanitizing light is an affordable investment that a professional can install onto your HVAC system. This equipment functions when your HVAC system is running, exposing viruses, bacteria, mold spores, and other microbes to UV-C light. This exposure damages the cellular structure of these contaminants, rendering them harmless.

UV lights require minimal maintenance. We recommend you have it checked during a routine HVAC appointment once per year. It’s necessary to clean the surface of the light and change the bulb periodically to ensure effectiveness.

Maintaining a Set Indoor Temperature

Your HVAC system can help you maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. Even if you’re away from home for an extended period, keep your home at 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher in the winter months. Allowing temperatures to drop or fluctuate frequently can lead to high levels of humidity, which promotes mold growth.

Circulating Your Indoor Air

It’s important that air circulates throughout your entire home each day. If you have pockets of humid and stagnant air, these areas are at a higher risk of mold growth. Keep all your vents and registers open, even in rooms that aren’t being used.

Removing Moisture From the Air

When you run your furnace for heat or your air conditioning system for a cooling effect, this can remove moisture. Although this isn’t the primary function of your HVAC system, it’s an added benefit.

A professional can install a whole-home dehumidifier onto your HVAC system to help remove more moisture. When your furnace or AC runs, moisture will be collected and removed through a drain line. Drier air will come out of your vents and registers, preventing the growth of mold.

Regularly inspect your dehumidifier’s drain line to ensure it’s clear of debris and mineral deposits. Otherwise, you can experience pooling water, which can promote mold growth. You should also perform dehumidifier filter maintenance, which can include replacing or washing a filter periodically. You can also schedule professional maintenance for your whole-home dehumidifier as part of your yearly service.

The Condition of Your Ducts

It’s important to note, the condition of your ductwork can impact how likely you are to experience mold in your home. There is usually a lot of dust and particulate matter inside ductwork. If you have high levels of moisture in your air that’s passing through your ducts, mold can grow. Add to that potential gaps and cracks in your ductwork and poor insulation, and you have the perfect scenario for mold growth.

We recommend periodic inspections of your ductwork, performed by a professional. Damaged areas can be sealed to prevent moisture and debris from getting inside. Also, insulating your ducts can provide essential protection.

Schedule a duct cleaning every three to five years. If you or someone in your home has allergies or asthma, consider duct cleaning more frequently. This process will remove particulate matter, decreasing the ability for mold to grow.

Proper HVAC Sizing

The size of your HVAC system is important. If you have equipment that is too small, this can lead to poor temperature and humidity control. Also, undersized equipment can cause high energy bills and equipment strain. If you have equipment that is too large, expect short-cycling and hot/cold spots. Humidity can increase in some of these areas.

When you’re in need of a new HVAC setup, we will ensure you have properly sized equipment. We consider the number of people in your home, the square footage of your residence, how many windows and doors you have, and your comfort needs.

Improving Circulation in Your Home

Your HVAC system can help circulate air through your various living spaces, attic, basement, and more. This helps maintain consistent temperatures while also controlling relative humidity. If you don’t need to run your HVAC system on a given day because of mild temperatures, consider using the fan feature for 10 to 15 minutes. This will help circulate air without heating or cooling it. While this won’t remove moisture, it will help prevent pockets of humid air.

You can also use exhaust fans and ceiling fans to improve air circulation in your home. Using this equipment along with your HVAC system can make a difference when it comes to mold prevention.

Controlling Relative Humidity and Preventing Mold

Don’t let mold grow inside your home. Let our team at Hoff Heating & AC provide you with professional HVAC maintenance, repairs, and upgrades that can help you maintain healthy and safe indoor air quality. We can help you choose a whole-home dehumidifier and perform the installation for you. Talk to our team about UV-sanitizing lights and annual inspections. Contact us at Hoff Heating & AC for mold prevention support in O’Fallon today.