Blog – Mr. Duct Cleaner

September Can Mean Mold in Your HVAC

Mr. Duct Cleaner knows just because it is September does not mean mold stops growing in your HVAC system. The month of September is Mold Awareness month for a reason. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes September as National Mold Awareness Month. This month is designed to inform, educate, and raise awareness about the adverse health effects due to exposure to indoor molds.

Are you aware that fluctuations in your system from cool to hot could potentially mean that moisture can build up and mold can grow? As moist air sits in a system, if there are any mold spores present, they can multiply in the stagnant air. Once the system is turned on, your HVAC system could be blowing mold spores throughout your ducts. If the system turns back off, the traveling mold spores will begin growing in their new location, and eventually, mold can spread throughout your whole home.

For some people, mold in their air ducts may not cause a problem. Different people react differently to mold. For others who are sensitive to mold, the symptoms vary from headaches, dizziness, nausea, eye swelling, respiratory distress, and many more. Seeing fungal growth in your HVAC system is like seeing a roach. Just as seeing one roach can signify a large nest elsewhere, a little bit of mold on the supply vent could signal a lot of molds in the inner systems of your HVAC unit.

Mr. Duct Cleaner is very aware of how mold grows in HVAC units and how it affects your indoor air quality. We can clean fungal growth from your system. We use professional equipment designed specifically for cleaning air ducts and HVAC systems. Once cleaned, we can fog your property with an antimicrobial fog to ensure that any active mold spores are deactivated. NOTE: We do NOT clean drywall. If the drywall has mold, we recommend calling a remediation company and having them cut it out and replace it.

Even if the fungal growth that is in your system is not mold, you still should probably have your HVAC system and ducts cleaned by Mr. Duct Cleaner. Contact us for your FREE Estimate.

Two Simple Steps to Avoid Mold in Air Ducts

Mr. Duct Cleaner knows there are 2 basic things you can do to avoid fungal growth in your HVAC and ducts system:

Keep your returns free and open to pulling in the air.
Sounds simple? Approximately 10% of the homes and businesses we enter have some sort of obstruction in front of the return. The return is the bigger vent in your home or office. It most likely is the dirtiest vent in your home. This is where the air circulating systems sucks into the HVAC coils the air it is going to cool or heat. If you put a dresser, credenza, bookcase, couch, etc. in front of this, you are limiting your system from getting fresh air and are breaking the desired cycle of circulation.

Circulating, dry air is the enemy of mold. Mold likes stagnant, moist air. Blocking the return most likely leads to warmer, moister air that is beneficial to mold or fungal growth.

Do NOT block or close off supply vents.
You may think you are saving money by closing off vents. In actuality, you are stopping the air from circulating, causing it to get stuck in the supply duct. It will stagnate in the supply duct. Remember? Circulating dry air is the enemy of mold. Shutting off multiple vents causes even more stagnant air. Mold or fungal growth will most likely happen. Your system will run less efficiently and mold spores will most likely form in the stagnant supply and then migrate to the rest of the system.

If you have committed either one of these errors, do not despair. It is fixable. Unblock the returns. Open up the vents. Then contact Mr. Duct Cleaner and schedule your duct cleaning. Our estimates are FREE.

Stop Turning Off Your Air Conditioner

If it is growing here, where else is it

Did you know that turning off your air conditioning unit when it is hot outside increases your chances of mold growth throughout your HVAC system? September is Mold Awareness month and Mr. Duct Cleaner wants you to learn about mold and how it might grow in your AC unit.

Some people think they can save money by turning off their air conditioning unit when they are not occupying their home. Mr. Duct Cleaner knows this is NOT good for your system. Not only does it take a lot of energy to get your house cool once you return home, but it also creates a moist, hot, wet condition that facilitates mold growth!

Mold can grow inside your HVAC unit on the coils, the blower fan, the plenum, the drain pan and spread through the ducts. The mold spores can then be distributed through your air and infiltrate your whole home. The mold can also spread to the drywall in your HVAC closet, on the insulation in your attic and the drywall surrounding your vents.

Mr. Duct Cleaner does not clean insulation or drywall. We do professionally clean supply ducts, return ducts, coils, plenums, blower fans- basically the entire HVAC system. Once cleaned we can fog your home with an antimicrobial fog. We can also apply a sealant that helps prevent mold growth from occurring in the boot of your vents. Over 60% of the jobs we perform are mold related. We are the trusted mold removal experts.

Stop turning off your HVAC system. If you do wish to save money, perhaps raising the temp by about 5 degrees when you leave is a better option than turning off your whole system. Do not cover or block vents, air needs to go somewhere other than hanging out stuck in a supply duct. Whenever the air gets cool enough outside, open those windows and let the outside air in! Mold likes stagnant, warm, moist air.

Ready to get your FREE estimate for cleaning the mold from your HVAC system? Contact us

Kudos to Mr. Duct Cleaner Employees

Work hard and play hard

Mr. Duct Cleaner is very lucky to have such smart, hard-working employees. On Labor Day, we will give them the day off in appreciation for all they do and in hopes that they will take the time to enjoy the holiday with their families.

During Covid, it would be easy to sit at home and not work. Our employees chose to work. We are very thankful for that. They are well trained, and they work hard. Duct cleaning is typically a hot, tiresome job. Our employees work diligently to clean ducts and HVAC systems to improve indoor air quality.

We know that property owners trust us to take care of their home and protect their belongings as we clean. We are the maids of the HVAC industry. That is not exactly a glorious title, however we are very good at what we do because all our employees are very good at what they do.

To all those individuals who go to work, Mr. Duct Cleaner salutes you and wishes you a happy and healthy Labor Day. Of course, we always wish you good indoor air quality! Contact us for your FREE estimate.

Black Spots on Vent Might Be Mold

Don’t let the small black spots become big

Is there black soot like tracks starting to form around your vents? Do you keep cleaning the dark spots off your HVAC vents and they keep reappearing? Do you want the good news or the bad news?

Let’s start with the bad news. Dark spots of dirt appearing on your vents is most likely a sign of fungal growth and could possibly be mold. More bad news? It is difficult to clean this off and have the mold go completely away by yourself. Even worse? If you ignore this, you can possibly have your vent problem go from a dark rim to a “v shape” of black mold across your ceiling. Drywall is porous and mold loves to entrench itself in it. You cannot clean this with a brush and bleach or vinegar. (no matter what your crazy uncle may say). NOTE: Mr. Duct Cleaner DOES NOT clean dry wall. If mold has traveled to your drywall, hire an experienced person to repair.

Now the good news. Mr. Duct Cleaner is very experienced at cleaning mold out of HVAC systems. We use professional equipment that knocks the mold out of your ducts and vacuums it away into a HEPA filter. If your vents have mold on them, you need to do more than just clean your ducts. Mr. Duct Cleaner can clean your entire HVAC system. We open your indoor HVAC unit and clean the plenum, the blower fan, and the HVAC coils so that when your system is turned on, there will be no fungal or mold spores running through your ducts. We can apply a sealant to the boots of your vents that tend to accumulate mold. This deters further growth. Once the entire system is cleaned, we can fog your HVAC unit and ensure that any living spores are deactivated. (if repair of drywall is needed this should be done immediately following the HVAC system cleaning).

Want to continually have your HVAC system cleaning spores out of the air? Mr. Duct Cleaner can install an Aerus Air scrubber that sends purification warriors through your air to fight virus, allergens and mold spores.

The best news? Mr. Duct Cleaner gives FREE estimates. Contact us for yours.

Commercial HVAC System Cleaning

Improve Indoor Air Quality

Are you getting black dust particles on your work papers sitting on the desk in the office? Are people in your office reacting to allergens in the air? It may be time to check your HVAC system. When was the last time your office had the ducts and HVAC units cleaned? Pre – covid?

Mr. Duct Cleaner is experienced at cleaning commercial HVAC systems. Our franchisees are expertly trained and capable of handling most commercial jobs with support from Team Headquarters.

As we get back to working together in on site offices, it becomes important to pay attention to the indoor air quality of the office. Commercial air ducts handle more people than the typical residential duct. Supply and return ducts are consistently deluged with air borne pathogens, allergens, skin particles, fungus, and mold spores. Dirty air gets sucked in through the return duct and goes into the HVAC unit. Filters catch a little bit of the dirt, the big stuff. Until they clog, then you change it and knock about some more dirt and dust that falls back into the system. The particles that make it past the filter go through the commercial HVAC system, out through your supply ducts and back into the air you breathe.

An investment in cleaning your HVAC system and improving your indoor air quality is an investment in your employees and customer’s health. Keeping your employees healthy translates to less sick days and better morale. Mr. Duct Cleaner recommends that most commercial systems be cleaned every 3-4 years depending upon the maintenance regimen and the demand on the HVAC system.

Click here for your FREE estimate. Yes, even the commercial estimates are free.

Too late to clean ducts and HVAC system

This motor stopped working because of all the dirt.

Do not wait until it is too late to clean your ducts and HVAC unit. What is too late? Your blower motor and fan can become so corroded with dirt that it overheats and causes your electric bill to increase, or it stops working all together. This picture is a real motor that one of the Mr. Duct Cleaner Franchises encountered. This motor is most likely not savable, we are the maids of the HVAC industry, not magicians.

How often should you get your ducts and HVAC system cleaned? As our resident PHD Joe Rei says, “the answer to all good questions is, it depends.” It depends upon how many people are occupying the space and how many hours they are there. It depends upon how man other animals are sharing the space and the type of animal. It depends upon how sensitive the people living in the space are to allergens and mold that naturally accumulate. A person who owns five long haired Irish setters living inside should probably get them cleaned every two to three years.

Have you recently had your home remodeled? Have you had new floors installed? Have you had a water or mold remediation event? Mr. Duct Cleaner recommends that you have your entire HVAC system including the ducts professionally cleaned to ensure that any construction dust, allergens, or mold is cleaned from your system.

Even if you do not have any of the issues above, NADCA and Mr. Duct Cleaner recommend having your ducts cleaned every 4-5 years. A little cleaning maintenance goes a long way. Cleaning your HVAC system could increase your efficiency by up to 30%. Mr. Duct Cleaner often finds clogged drains, disconnected ducts and various other small maintenance issue while performing your duct cleaning. Repairing these can instantly affect your indoor air quality.

Schedule your FREE estimate here.

HVAC System Cleaning vs. Duct Cleaning

Top is HVAC unit, Bottom is Condenser

Mr. Duct Cleaner specializes in improving your indoor air quality. Cleaning your ducts is a good start however, if you clean ONLY the ducts its comparable to mopping half your kitchen floor. Want to clean the other half? Then clean your HVAC unit. Do not confuse the outside condenser unit in some split systems with your HVAC evaporator coil and blower fan. Your residential condenser unit typically sits outside. While keeping this free of debris and gunk can improve your energy efficiency, cleaning the HVAC evaporator coils, plenum and blower fan can improve your indoor air quality.

The HVAC unit typically sits in the attic, a closet upstairs or downstairs, or in smaller spaces “over the tub” or in a hallway. Sometimes it is the location of the filter, we recommend changing every 3 months. Mr. Duct Cleaner and NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association) recommend cleaning your ducts and HVAC unit every 3-5 years depending upon the particulars and demand on your HVAC system. If there is someone in your home that has significant allergy sensitivities, asthma, or auto immune issues you may want to have them cleaned more often.

Mr. Duct Cleaner uses equipment designed specifically for duct and HVAC system cleaning. We do more than just wipe down the outside and use a shop vac. A specially trained technician arrives at your home, wears booties to protect your surfaces and keep your floors cleaned. They put down plastic to keep any dust accidentally escaping our equipment away from your furniture or belongings. When completed, we leave your home cleaner than when we began, including the air ducts and the HVAC system. We specialize in duct cleaning and HVAC system cleaning.

Take the next steps to improved indoor air quality, contact us for your Free estimate.

Do not confuse your condenser with your HVAC unit

Importance of HVAC and Duct Cleaning

“Duct cleaning is like cleaning fairy dust”, said one inexperienced HVAC contractor. I wonder if that HVAC contractor has ever opened an HVAC system and examined the coils? Mr. Duct Cleaner has a lot of pictures of before and after that will show just how much dirt tends to hang out in the HVAC unit. Most of the time we can write our names in the dust on the plenum.

According to NADCA , through normal occupation in a home, we generate a great deal of contaminants and air pollutants, such as dander, dust, and chemicals. These contaminants are pulled into the HVAC system and re-circulated 5 to 7 times per day, on average. Over time, this re-circulation causes a build-up of contaminants in the duct work.

Recently we performed a job for a gentleman who was sensitive to mold and was unable to sleep in his bedroom comfortably. He had a mold inspection in his home and a little bit was found under the sink, but nothing significant enough to cause the sleeping problems. In a last-ditch effort, he called Mr. Duct Cleaner and scheduled a duct and HVAC system cleaning. Our experienced technician found the coils inside one of the HVAC systems covered in fungal growth. In the process of cleaning, it was discovered that the drainage line was plugged up, creating the moisture that the fungus needed to grow. We unplugged the line, professionally cleaned the coils, and then cleaned all the ducts in his home. A mildistat fog was then applied to the coils. His system is now running much more efficiently, and he is able to sleep in his bedroom. Perhaps cleaning the “fairy dust” was helpful. (I need a font for sarcasm)

It costs nothing to get an estimate from Mr. Duct Cleaner.

No fairy dust here, just mold

for your FREE estimate and take the first step to cleaner air.

Clean Your Commercial HVAC System

Improve Indoor Air Quality in Your Commercial Space

Now that some of us are going back to work in commercial spaces, it is good to know that Mr. Duct Cleaner is experienced at cleaning both residential AND commercial HVAC systems. Indoor air quality in the office is just as important as it is in your home. Most commercial air ducts face the same challenges as residential air ducts. The systems may be bigger, the supply ducts and return ducts may be bigger, but the accumulation of dirt still happens.

The air inside gets filled with the normal day-to-day dirt and dust. Skin particles, dander, viruses, dust mites, and other particles of “nasty” circulate in the air. That dirty air gets sucked in through the return duct and goes into the HVAC unit. The filter catches a little bit of the dirt, the big stuff. Until it clogs, then you change it and knockabout some more dirt and dust that falls back into the system. The particles that make it past the filter go through your system, out through your supply ducts, and back into the air, you breathe. That return duct just keeps getting dirtier and dirtier and commercial filters tend to get neglected.

If you are the owner or a property manager of commercial property with HVAC systems in use, consider the economic benefits of cleaning your commercial ducts. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 25 to 40 percent of the energy used for heating or cooling is wasted. Contaminants in the heating and cooling system cause it to work harder and shorten the life of your system. Although filters are used, the heating and cooling system still gets dirty through normal use. When an HVAC system is clean, it does not have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you desire. As a result, less energy is used, leading to improved cost-effectiveness.

Mr. Duct Cleaner is experienced in commercial HVAC system cleaning. Schedule your FREE estimate today.