Best Way to Remove Mold From an Air Duct

Mold can be very dangerous. It can lead to a number of serious health problems, particularly with young children, or with people with compromised lungs. If mold is left untreated, it will spread, and can cause lung damage, asthma and even brain damage. If mold attaches to the heat and air ducts in the home, it needs to be removed immediately.

Identifying the problem:

Telltale signs of mold in the heating and air ducts include health problems, such as frequent bronchitis and other breathing disorders. If the ducts smell musty or moldy, they are almost certainly infected with mold. 

Using ozone to kill the mold:

Ozone is used to kill mold, but it requires a high concentration over a sustained period of time. There are ozone machines including high-output ozone generators like the xt-6000, which can be fired directly into the ventilation system. This will kill most of the mold in the ducts, but it is only one step in getting rid of the mold in the duct system.

If mold is still present, a stronger ozone system, such as the xt-28000, should be fired directly into the vent. The machine can be moved to a central location in the home for greater effectiveness.

Sanitizing the ducts:

If the mold problem still persists, and to make sure that the mold is completely removed, it is often necessary to rely on a professional to sanitize the ducts. This is done with a spinning head vacuum. This type of vacuum attracts all of the loose dirt and dust from the air system. This takes one to two hours, and may cost $75-$150, depending on the professional.

Cautions:

After the mold has been removed and the ventilation units have been sanitized, it is important to cover household possessions prior to turning on the air conditioning or heat. There may still be loose dust and it will blow out when the unit is turned on.

Immediately after turning on the system, it is a good idea to leave the home for a while, an hour or so, to make sure that any such particles are removed and not breathed in when the system is turned on.

It is also advisable to wear a mask when you do return, to clean the house and remove any leftover dust. It is possible that this leftover dust may contain traces of mold spores, so wear the mask and take precautions when cleaning up the dust.