Use a clean and dry cloth and wipe the interior of the ducts until dry. So it is the safest option to get an expert to inspect your air duct system. Do you have mold in your home & need a way to get rid of it? It can quickly cover the whole area and get into places tough to reach such as the ceiling and behind the toilet. These materials are registered and regulated by the EPAs Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and while not a federal requirement, some states even require licenses for those who apply them. It can be used regularly to spray sensitive areas, furnishings exposed to mold, clothing, or the entire home without having to leave your home. Many are effective with just one application. The solution is nonflammable, non-staining, and nonabrasive for the air duct surface. Mold in walls is commonly associated with leaking pipes and must be treated by containment and fixing the cause of the moisture through repair or sealing. This type of air duct mold can appear in a variety of ways, making detection challenging, unless you have a highly focused vision. The HVAC system is the most important investment made in any new or existing home. Prevent moisture with proper ventilation and monitor indoor humidity. This article has tried a lot to clear all things related to the air duct sanitizing process. It uses a 48 flexible hose to facilitate application into duct-work, and it is adjustable from 0-18 oz. The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) produces and maintains a consensus-based standard and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wrote a remediation guideline. If the mold is throughout your house, its going to be extremely difficult to remove yourself. Using a mold fogger is the best . The foggers contain strong chemicals designed to kill mold and if precautions arent followed, risk increases. However, this spray will only work properly after getting your air ducts cleaned. Here are the steps on how to use it: 1. Mold Bomb foggers are widely available at hardware stores, big box stores and many places online. To help keep yourself safe, wear gloves, goggles and a mask when using. Here is a list of some places that sell mold foggers: If you decide to hire a professional to do this work, the cost can vary based on how big the house is, how much of an area is needed to cover and the type of chemical that is used. Make sure you get any air vents, walls, ceilings and floors. Any leaks in your ceiling or roof might potentially cause duct damage and mold growth. 3. You can either hire a professional for this or become knowledgeable yourself. To eliminate dangerous pollutants within the ducts, UV lights or ionized. With abundant wetness, it is likely to proliferate quickly. The most important thing you can do is follow the instructions of the exact product you purchased. This can cause an explosion. 4 Considerations When Hiring Professional Home Cleaning Services. Thus, you must begin taking safety measures before you find yourself in danger. Handheld ones with less power are better for smaller areas and less distance while stationary, higher-powered ones cover bigger rooms like a basement or entire crawl space. & 14oz. Copyright 2023 Home Improvement Cents, all rights reserved. Air filters are essential for preventing dangerous pollutants from entering your living space. Disinfectant Fogging Solution and deodorizes it while also eradicating any mold or mildew that may be present. Normal everyday dust or insulation combined with moisture can allow mold to grow and spread throughout the system and into the home ventilation, causing a systemic mold problem in the home. The day-to-day inhalation of mold keeps the immune system firing inflammatory mediators and prevents the body from detoxifying the toxins. Many companies state how their products are effective at killing the mold. All rights reserved. Additionally, clean the air duct coverings with water. Turn the system fan on; if you hold a piece of paper or tissue in front of the vent, the paper/tissue should be pulled towards thevent. The top issues with using the chemicals in this manner are the delivery of the antimicrobial, efficiency, and the potential toxicity of the compounds being utilized. Air duct cleaning and sanitizing processes are effective care to increase efficiency and lifespan. These areas of air leaks can then be sealed with caulking and/or metal duct tape to prevent potentially contaminated air from communicating with breathable air. It only needs . If mold is in multiple rooms, then you need more than one fogger. The Bio-Fresh fogger is made of a one-piece, seamless heavy-duty copolymer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, having a professional clean out your vents costs around$450 to $1,000,depending on the extensiveness of the job. WaterDamagePlus.com is a free service to assist homeowners in connecting with local service contractors. The process uses negative pressure for coating the interior of the air ducts. If Your family members are suffering from allergy problems like asthma, cold, sneezing frequently. In order to completely prevent and get rid of mold, you must remove the water or moisture, dry the area and take steps to make sure it wont come back. Cesar Collado is a former pharmaceutical R&D senior executive, venture capitalist, and seasoned strategy consultant in biotechnology and technology industries in general. In addition, antimicrobial products are typically used to clean all surfaces exposed to mold. Molds are part of the natural environment. Spray at least 10 to 15 pumps into each outlet; repeat this process for every air intake vent in your homes ductwork. Here are the steps for using the Lysol spray: At your thermostats, turn on the air distribution fan. There are different types designed for different areas based on your needs. Place the fogger in the best spot so it can cover as much of the room as possible. Fogger . Moreover, in general, mold in air ducts is commonly encountered by an unpleasant or musty smell. You can check to see if the one you want is pet- and kid-friendly and if its safe to get on items in the house such as furniture or toys. The Rust-Oleum Concrobium Mold Control Fogger is ideal for larger interior surfaces. This widespread type of mold that normally attacks air ducts develops over months to years. Another leading cause of mold developing in your air ducts is the quick temperature change. Thymol is the natural oil of the Thyme plant. The HVAC fan will circulate the fog through the system and ductwork. The hydrogen peroxide will eradicate the mold during this process. Youll then want to spray and wipe down the inside of your air vents with warm and soapy water. By beginning the fogging with unfinished portions of the house, such as crawlspaces and attics, Hot Fogging provides a valuable diagnostic to identify leaks in the home where fog obviously leaks out and can be seen. Pull the air filter back against you and liberally spray Lysol into the duct. This is when you want to use a professional. When someone in your home is sick due to mold, professional remediation is often expected to remove all mold in the home. Technically, the EPA defines a sanitizer as a substance or mixture of substances that lower the bacterial population in the inanimate environment (on surfaces and objects) by significant numbers (e.g, 3 log 10 reductions or more), but it cannot destroy or eliminate all bacteria.. NIKRO provides a full line of airless sprayers and foggers for applying antimicrobial coatings and disinfectants on surfaces and in air duct systems. This mold variant normally demands a continuous supply of water from the air ducts. If you experience irritation in your nose, throat, or eyes whenever you turn on your HVAC system or enter an air-conditioned area, the air duct may be contaminated with mold. Please log in again. If using a stationary fogger, one you can set it to the desired time which doesnt need to be too long 5-7 minutes. When the fogging has finished, keep turning on your air conditioning unit for a minimum of 20 minutes. These areas of air leaks can then be sealed with caulking and/or metal duct tape to prevent potentially contaminated air from communicating with breathable air. Your email address will not be published. Water can accumulate in drip pans and serve as a breeding ground for mold growth. Granted that this may not be as effective as when mold is professionally treated, this may do for mild cases of mold infestation. Without a doubt, cleaning regularly is a great way to reduce the chances of developing duct mold. You May Like: How To Clean Mold From Leather. Air duct sanitizing is a safe process and very effective in providing healthy air for breathing. Using a proprietary mix of botanical ingredients, Bio-Balance provides the means to effectively fog your home to return balance to your home environment and remove mold from the air and furnishings. According to the EPA, the sanitizer can kill most microorganisms, including bacteria, fungus, and viruses. Air duct sanitizing system removes the accumulated bacteria, viruses, fungi, and mildew in the dust. It is safe to use on a variety of surfaces, such as clothes. They are one part of the process but not the whole process. These compounds should only be used for their registered purpose and improper use can affect or harm humans and also pets and wildlife. The HVAC system will recirculate the fog through the ductwork and air handler to treat mold spores and debris. Rather than struggling to physically clean and remove the mold from inside the ducts, you can spray the fogger and get rid of it that way. Another leading cause of mold developing in your air ducts is the quick temperature change. Everything You Need to Know About Residential Laser Grid Security Systems, 11 Budgetary Factors to Consider When Planning a Kitchen Renovation, The Best Ways to Childproof Cabinets: Child and Baby Safety 101. When the solution is heated, turn on your air conditioning system. To access the deeper parts within your ducts, you might have to use a mop. The login page will open in a new tab. Under no scenario will a mold sick person heal if they remain in a moldy home! If these spores make their way into the return air ducting of your HVAC system, your entire home can be contaminated. The sanitizing process is pretty enough to kill all microorganisms and keep the indoor air quality. However, after reading, you should now know how to clean your mold-ridden air ducts and understand various prevention methods to reduce the chances of this occurring. Cesar worked with MicroBalance Health Products from 2014-2019, where he had responsibility for strategy, revenues, marketing, and finance, as well as, writing all original content for the companys newsletters during his tenure. There are also other international organizations such as the European Union that regulate the use of these antimicrobials. While these statements may be truthful to an extent, it doesnt actually solve the problem. Along with the fogger, you will need a mold controller chemical. By flushing the HVAC system with a botanical antimicrobial through the air intake vents, you can distribute the fog through the ductwork throughout the home.