While there are plenty of good reasons to keep up with commercial HVAC maintenance, preventing mold growth might be the most important.
Mold in your HVAC equipment or ductwork can easily spread via the tiny spores that the treated air carries into surrounding spaces. Once these spores go airborne, they can negatively affect your property, your employees, and your customers.
Here are a few telling signs that your commercial HVAC system might be spreading mold.
Cycles Are Accompanied by a Musty Odor
If you’ve dealt with mold in the past, you’re likely already familiar with its unpleasant odor. Mold has a musty smell similar to dirty socks or wet cardboard. As more mold grows in the same area, that smell will grow stronger.
When you have mold in your commercial HVAC system, pinpointing the source of the odor can be a challenge.
The treated air coming from your ductwork will spread the smell through the open spaces in your building. If you notice that it gets stronger when the HVAC system runs a cycle, you can assume that there’s mold inside the ducts or the unit itself.
Mold Growth Appears on HVAC Components
It’s not always easy to find mold growth in a commercial building. It might be lurking behind a wall or in another hidden location. Depending on how the mold first starts to grow, you might notice other signs before you find visible patches.
When it comes to your HVAC system, uncovering mold isn’t as difficult.
Start by looking in places that are easy to see. Common spots include ductwork registers, the air filter, and the drain pan. The evaporator coils in the air handler might also bear evidence of mold. If you find any growth on these components, you might have mold deeper in the system as well.
Regular Occupants Experience Health Issues
Mold tends to have a negative impact on health. Limited or occasional exposure might result in headaches, congestion, coughing, and sneezing. These symptoms are easy to dismiss since the individual won’t usually linger in the area. Once a customer or supplier leaves your commercial building, they’ll start feeling better.
However, more consistent exposure carries serious health risks. People with asthma might have more frequent or severe attacks. Mold spores can also trigger allergic reactions in some people.
Even without a breathing-related illness, people can develop severe respiratory and cardiovascular infections from mold exposure. This could play a role in employee illnesses when absences become more frequent.
You Notice High Humidity or Moisture Near the System
Humidity and moisture are among the most common causes of mold in offices and other commercial spaces. Even if you maintain a sterile work environment, your ducts and HVAC equipment might run through less-clean parts of the building.
It’s crucial to check these areas for condensation and high humidity. If you find moist or humid conditions, take steps to correct them. Improve ventilation in these areas or install dehumidifiers to reduce the presence of moisture.
These steps will prevent future mold growth by removing the conditions that mold needs to thrive. You can also hire a mold inspector to scour these areas and identify existing patches of mold.
Mold Grows Close to the HVAC Ducts
A common effect of HVAC mold is that it blows black mold particles through the system. Those particles can land on any surface as they enter your commercial space. Once mold particles land on a surface, they can multiply and flourish.
Look for dark discoloration on ceiling tiles close to duct openings. You might also notice mold growing on your ceiling or walls in other places. Anytime you see discoloration that could be mold, assume there’s more growing elsewhere. A full inspection of the building can offer you peace of mind.
Your System Loses Efficiency
The physical presence of mold can affect HVAC efficiency and damage your equipment, potentially clogging your evaporator coils, air filter, and other components. Even if you don’t notice a change in your indoor comfort, higher utility bills will alert you that this is an issue.
If you don’t change your air filter regularly or keep up with necessary maintenance services, mold can cause more serious damage. It can eventually affect the coils, causing them to collect moisture and freeze. As mold spreads through your system, it might damage other parts as well.
Start With a Detailed Mold Inspection
Some of the indications and effects of mold are easy to spot. Others might take longer to reveal themselves. As soon as you suspect a mold problem, schedule a professional inspection to confirm and locate the presence of mold. Doing so will help you determine what kind of remediation action to take.
Contact our mold remediation specialists for the expert help your commercial property needs.
