Hey, mold assessor here. I really love your perspective and I'm glad to see this kind of content. The reason why we recommend removing drywall that has been wet is because it is porous and full of substrate that mold can grow on. Cleaning the surface of drywall still allows mold growth to be harbored within the entire drywall board. However, when it comes to flex duct there is no cellulose fiber for mold to grow on. Once you clean the dust and particulate out of the ductwork, the substrate for mold growth is gone. That's why we don't recommend the replacement of ductwork. Appreciate your work. Keep making good videos!
@@NewHVACGuide not an expert on it, but have experience with it, for sure. When massive amounts of mold in ductwork, ideally want to replace as it is said that even dead mold is unhealthy. With all the nooks and crannies in ductwork, can't imagine it all coming out easily, so imo, better to replace in some cases. Not advice, just do your homework peeps.
That’s because doing the real work is often much more challenging than making it *look like* you’re working. Knowing what work needs to be done is another lacking industry standard, this video can help consumers. Often remediation is based on seeking insurance settlement money from *pictures* NOT based on thorough evidence-based testing and inspection. Insurance isn’t incentivized toward “complete” solutions, when sufficient solutions to ‘close the claim’ are cheaper! 3rd party inspections ARE recommended, but usually don’t happen.
I am so grateful for this video! We recently found mold in our garage that was the result of a leaking shower head in our master bathroom which is right above the garage. We had a mold inspector come and they checked the air quality and conducted surface tests on our returns. Mold spores were found on our returns which leads me to believe that there is mold in our ductwork. I live in Maryland and I really wish your company served our area! Thanks for the great information. This is information that all homeowners need to know and I think regularly inspecting your home's air quality and even getting a mold test should be a part of regular home maintenance.
Hello - I am curious if you ever found a cause/solution to the mold growth you were seeing on your return vent? I just moved into a rental and have this and am very concerned. Not sure how to address it. Thanks in advance!
I’m going to venture out on a limb and say you probably don’t need to rip out and replace all of the ductwork in your house due to mold. You should most definitely have it checked and thoroughly cleaned if suspected mold is verified. No you don’t typically need to move out of the home. Also for those who are concerned about who the professionals are you can always ask to see their NADCA certification. Thats a good indicator of both knowledge and experience.
There must be an exception to your replace it all philosophy. The only pure HVAC work i did was a couple years in the 90's as a service tech in Savannah GA, but they did ductwork installation as well. It was always QUALITY... all sheet metal. No foamboard, no flex duct, You may have to replace the insulation wrapping it if it got moldy, but replacing the metal ductwork would be insane. Even using your drywall-in-a-flood logic. They replace the porous drywall... not the framing it was screwed to.
We never had mold issues until we had a new HVAC system installed, 3 years later there is thick black colored mold all over the vents, and it blows black dust on surfaces. There is also a ton of humidity, so much that it causes doors to swell and become difficult to open/close.
Was the new system "upsized" at all? Sounds like it's not running long enough to remove humidity. The longer a system runs, the more moisture it pulls from the air. At minimum, I'd say you need a dehumidifier installed as suggested in this video. You definitely need some duct cleaning.
@@grantp6451 Thank you. I don’t believe it was upsized at all. I will pass your recommendations on to my husband. Also… is an HVAC system supposed to sound like Godzilla when it kicks on (heat)? It’s so loud you can hear it at the end of the street. It’s also very loud in the house, but it sounds like Jurassic Park outside.
@@ellaboobella8770 Excessive startup noise is often caused by equipment placement that requires more force to get moving. For example, if the line that goes from the outdoor unit goes straight up a wall to an air handler in an attic it has to push that refrigerant up the line which puts more stress on the compressor until the refrigerant gets moving. There are some band-aids that can be added to the system to help with that. A basic solutions is a "hard-start kit". It's basically just a capacitor which serves as an energy reservoir to make sure there's enough power available when the initial demand spikes, which contributes to part of the noise. Another, more advanced band-aid is the Micro-Air EasyStart. It also utilizes a capacitor, but additionally starts the fan separately from the compressor which cuts down on noise at startup. If the unit is extra noisy at all times, it's possible that it could benefit from rubber pads underneath.
@@grantp6451 Great information! Thank you. Definitely worth considering. Is there some reason why it does this only on heat?’as far as constant noise, when the ac runs it’s pretty loud. Ours is the only one on the street you can hear.
@@ellaboobella8770 When in heat mode, the reversing valve puts the system in reverse. So instead of expelling heat through the outdoor unit, it sends the heat into the air handler. The outdoor fan doesn't run in this cycle, and should just be the compressor. It's possible that the fan's noise helps to drown out the compressor noise in cooling mode and you notice it less. Kind of like when you get off the highway and notice the radio seems louder because there is no more wind/tire noise. Another band-aid for compressor noise, that may actually come on some high-end models, is a compressor blanket. It's a sound deadening wrap that is placed around the compressor itself. That paired with some rubber pads/feet underneath the whole unit should provide some relief.
Thank you so much for sharing. I live in an apartment building where they have never - in the 6 years living there - cleaned the a/c ducts. I got sick several days after Thanksgiving last year after turning on my a/c. I was diagnosed with bacterial bronchitis and admitted to the hospital for 4 days. I believe there was mold in the air duct. I'm about to purchase a home and insisting that the seller have the air ducts cleaned. Thanks again.
Here on CO it is pretty dry. We have radon so you need to have a fan in your attic, seal all cracks in expansion joints. Seal the sump pump too. Having lived in WI for many years I don't want a humidifier on my furnace. Lol
My house doesn't have a vent in our bathroom. Something we do is put a couple bottles of frozen water in there whenever someone takes a shower to help remove the moisture from the air. The bottles sit in little trays for flower pots so we can collect the water and dump it down the sink. It would be super expensive to run a fan vent on there so I want to eventually remodel the bathroom a bit so I can get a dehumidifier installed in there.
I have a mold allergy and just moved into a new apartment, I had to leave the last one because I had terrible asthma attacks. Now I can’t breathe at the new place. The hvac company said it would cost 3,500$ and my landlord said she’d have a guy come clean it because that price is insulting. I pay 600$ a month for inhalers and allergy shots. I’m so upset and don’t know what to do.
Thanks so much for changing out duct comment! I've REALLY been wondering if that could really be cleaned enough. And thanks also for the other info, all helpful!
My daughter has been having severe head aches to the point she’s referred to a neurologist and we live in louisiana n our humidity in our house is 80 percent last I remember testing a year ago. We have cedar walls throughout this house and in 2 bedrooms there’s black mold growing on the walls n u cannot clean off so it’s saturated or coming from inside. Now the ceiling in hallway is covered in black mold and the air vents have mold growing around them. People have told me I worry too much and just bc it is the color black doesn’t mean it’s the dangerous kind. I’m glad I watched this video!!!😢
Get you and your family out of there until th emold is remediated. It is not something to mess with. People who tell you you worry too much are highly uneducated in the harms of mold. Most people don't learn about it until they're deeply affected by it.
I agree 💯 get rid of all the ductwork I’ve never been a big fan of cleaning flex or duct board. By the time someone has paid for their ductwork to be cleaned there about half the cost of all new ductwork.
I put one of those rolling ones in my brother's home after about 6 inches of water,and that piece of luggage was throwing water outside in minutes...gallons. lol
Great info! I’m currently dealing with a strange issue of strong chemical smell from one of my ac vents. My husband doesn’t smell it but It’s making me very sick. I’m starting to think I’m crazy or have a brain tumor. Ugg
WONDERFUL information. I knew I should have been sleeping out in the teepee for the last 2 years. (I just need new poles (27'x17 poles)) it's a BIG teepee!
This was insanely helpful even though you didn't show me anything I now know so much about what's going on with my wife's headaches. Just check the air handler uh oh Houston we have a problem
I have a genetic inflammatory disease induced by mold. I have been disabled and gone into poverty because this is not recognized as a disability. When I moved into the current condo I lived, I personally had the HVAC system tested. It came back with condemned levels of dust-living mold. I have nowhere else to live (can barely afford food), so I shut down my HVAC and am forced to live with no heat or AC in my apartment. Because it is a part of an HOA living community, I cannot remove the walls to change the ducts either. I do the best I can to keep the mold levels low in my apartment-- low humidity, low moisture, frequent cleaning. Unless I win the lotto, this is the best I'll get. My skin and hair suffer the most but I think it's only mild compared to other people.
Not doubting your condition but that’s not exactly how genetics work. The so called mold gene is actually a Human Leukocyte antigen, or HLA. So it’s actually the presence of HLA imprinted on chromosome 6 if I remember correctly.
@@billparris210 Yes, exactly, it's the HLA-DR issue. Not many people know about it so it's easier to describe it the way I did shorthand. I'm glad someone else knows what I'm talking about! I have the multisusceptibility variation which means I'm like a canary in a coal mine with not just mold, but chemicals and horrible pathogen die-offs. There aren't that many doctors willing to address it (and it's not practical to just avoid everything in the world), so it's pretty much roulette with food and skincare products and when I get sick I get Jarvis Herximers a lot. I wish more people knew about it. It would totally change how we prescribe medications.
Mold can be cleaned from coik and air handle if it hasnt gotten bad in the duct. Put a uv light i the cabinet pull and clean the coil then install i wave r or reme halo
What if you live in apartment complex and they dont keep up properly..i been having issues since i lived here congested , bronchitis and pneumonia put me in hospital few yrs ago. I was never sick until i moved here other than yes maybe get normal flu once in 10 yrs
I dont think the apartment complex i live in cares enough to cut out the mold growing on my walls, let alone, the fact that my ac unit is caked with gunk and probably most definitely mold......hmmm
Ty for your channel and great information. Help!!!! I live in Florida and my central ac works great temperature wise, but, it smells like cat urine terribly. I have no pets and there are no dead rodents. We just looked up in attic where the filter and coils are. Am I able to clean the coils? Thankyou so much.
Got to stop all your leaks that you may have. FLIR scanners can determine this. Seal these leaks. Chlorine Dioxide Fumigation works well (Post mold remediation) You will need 1 gram per sq ft to make this work and you have to place your fumigation stations in sepearate rooms and one in front of your return vent while running the system at MAX
I have a home dehumidifier running all the time, Remi-Halo ionizer installed, along with UV light at the AC coil area. There is no mold in HVAC unit. However, there is mold everywhere in duct work. Can you explain and recommend solution? Thanks bro.
I have a downflow furnace with a AC coil at the bottom attaching to the supply plenum below the floor, in the crawlspace. I removed the housing door to the AC coil and looked into the supply plenum. I can see rust on the bottom of the supply plenum, so it looks like my AC pan overflowed at various times leaving standing water inside the supply plenum. I can't find a float switch on the AC coil cabinet. I'd like to evacuate, and store, the freon, remove the AC coil to access the plenum, and clean out the rust. Is this a common problem? How do you address this kind of problem? How would you clean the rust from the plenum?
I bought a OdorStop OS144PRO UV Air Purifier 144W System. It has 4 16 inch bulbs. I plan on installing it above my acoil. I know it will prevent mold from growing where it shines but will it actually kill any mold that is already there or kill mold down line in my ducting ? I don't understand why people say that placing in the ducting cleans the air better if all air that goes through all the ducts passes through the acoil. Also does heat hurt the bulbs for when winter comes and now there is heat going through my system. My system does both heat and cool. Thanks
@JoJo-op5xy according to the manufacturer conversation I had it wont kill mold down line only where it shines and what air passes through it. A side note. All four of my bulb failed within 5 months and they had to send me new ones. I haveba feeling these bulbs are very poorly made. Time will tell as they stated soemtimes there are bad bulbs.
I live in Charlotte, NC Who would you recommend that I call. Live in a manufactured home with HVAC. PLEASE help as I have chronic migraines. The system is not that old and had the crawl space encapsulated. Lord please help!
After we installed a UV light there was a odd smell coming from the area, do you have any insight that you can offer to why a smell would be coming from the light? It’s like a heater coming on smell? Thank you
10 years ago I had round hard ductwork installed and it’s cooled the house better than ever. Recently I called a company to check for a leak in my unit and they ended up sending out a couple guys to give me a estimate on a new system. We had heavy rain the previous day and they told me they couldn’t price a new unit without new ductwork as it got wet and had water inside. The ductwork was installed with hangers and may appear it’s laying on the moisture barrier but it may just be the insulation that got wet. I don’t see how they can tell if water is inside. It’s a large heavy duct . They left without giving me a quote because I declined new ductwork. What do you think?
I have Merv 11 along with a 1500.00 apparatus to aid in cleaning the air.. Got a reverse osmosis equipment for the water..I need help..I've only lived here for 2 years with the majority of time out the home..No one really wants to help...just a lot of getting the money, then disappeared...
Been sick ever since I've moved from the north to southern Georgia..Never had allergies..and doctors in Georgia didn't listen...I'm currently going back and forth from Georgia to Pennsylvania to get help..seeing doctors..My head hurts continously.... Currently have 8 test to see what's happening to my body...Please help..
(1) I'm located in the mountains of southern CA. None of the UV lights on Amazon are able to be shipped to CA. Any suggestions? (2) I only have a furnace (no AC coils). Where would you recommend I install a UV light? Seems like installing a light just above my furnace burners would melt the light, but also wouldn't the burners kill any mold that may have built up over the summer?
They didn’t remove the bottom of the house. They removed the interior portion of drywall and then they cleaned the other side of that they didn’t get rid of the wires they didn’t get rid of the housewrap they didn’t get rid of the exterior cladding. They removed one part, the easy and cheap part to remove, and they cleaned the other part just like duck cleaning, if they can afford to replace all the ductwork and HVAC systems perfect but a good solution if they can’t afford all that is duck cleaning and you’re right they cannot guarantee that they got every mold spore but they can do a pretty good job and it’s pretty cost-effective
They found mold in two vents and the a/c. They want to clean the machine and vent and then they want to add a halo air purifier with hydrogen peroxide. I want to test it. But we remodel the house no mold. Just there. Is that ok?
Can a 20 year-old HVAC system infested with mold be properly remediated or does it need to be replaced? Cladosporium was found in the HVAC unit and in the ductwork. I’m a sick renter. I paid to have the ducts deep-cleaned, which helped some, but air quality expert confirmed mold is still present.
Wait a second now you’re saying you can’t clean the ductwork but you can clean and treat the HVAC system I guess the same question can you guarantee you got every mold spore out?
I was going to move into a apartment that is a 2 bedroom 2 bath for only 1100 dollars in Orlando until I saw the coils and mold dark thick black mold and black mold on the vent hell no. I my opinion you need to change the entire system once it's that bad.
I’m having issues now with my apartment complex in Orlando. I been here since October of 2022 and now smelling this musty smell. Looked at the vents and was scared. It was covered with mold and mildew. I am a hurricane Irma victim and was trying to find a place to leave asap and didn’t fully look at the vents. The ducts are molded and not sure what to do.
@AprLuvProduction22 you must move, please. This is your health mold will kill you slowly. There is nothing they can do unless they replace all the vents and ac system. You can break the lease on the grounds of it not being safe. Talk to the manager try to get into another unit and check the vents if not move asap.
Dear ghost of Peter Griffin ... your ethereal spirit is cordially invited to spend a few months on the Gulf Coast during hurricane season. Too bad you didn't have relatives who DID die (as some of us did) from the toxicity of black mold thanks to little guys like "Ike", "Katrina", or "Harvey". Some molds look like beards, but aren't.
Have you ever seen mold in a return duct? I have a mystery mold issue, nothing visible, no smell, been dealing with it ever since I moved in (Houston TX). I only feel it in my lungs, no nose problems. Had the ducts cleaned twice. Ducts to the vents have been replaced. Also added a UV light, new coil, whole home filter added. But my suspect air return... I have an air return on the 2nd floor near my kitchen. The HVAC cleaner told me the kitchen return had lots of grease, all the way up in the attic above the 3rd floor where the return connects to the HVAC system. The kitchen stove didn't have a vent hood before I moved in, I've since added one venting outside. I'm wondering if that much grease is in the return, could that cause mold growth? One HVAC guy said, "I've been doing this for 30 years, I've never seen mold in a return".
Hello - I am curious if you ever found a cause/solution to the mold growth you were seeing on your return vent? I just moved into a rental and have this on the return only and am very concerned. Not sure how to address it. Thanks in advance!
@@missr9445 It's not my return. I'm still hunting it down, but I've narrowed the field significantly. I've replaced all the attic ducting and all the returns. A/C has been replaced. The only duct left is going out to my second floor, it's located in the chase. I suspect the chase isn't sealed properly allowing hot air from the attic inside, and next to the cold air from the duct work it creates the mold situation. If that's not it, maybe the flex ducts into my living room and kitchen are damaged, also causing a mix of hot/cold air.
@@tyronehoustonson2944 Sadly haven't figured it out yet. Just had a blower door test done. My dehumidifiers are pulling down 4 gallons of water a day. The test told me my house is about the right amount of tightness. So excess moisture must be from the HVAC. There are a couple spots on the HVAC in the attic that are blowing cold air out. Presumably that's maybe where attic air is coming into the system. I sealed them up last night. Having another HVAC "expert" come by Tuesday.
My unit is 5 years old ( carrier) last 2 years HVAC company said I have mold, he vacuums it, sprays it and leaves. He said I need 1k for lights, and acid wash. I also am having breathing problems.I bought a dehumidifier, that I dump 3xs a day 50 pint. He told me to lower my AC to 74, from 76? I also am concerned about duct work! I am in Florida, my house is 900 sf. And the compressor is 2 1/2 ton. I was told that should NOT be? Should lights been installed when unit was? Help!!
First subscribe before even watching the video? So he sells ductwork gee go figure. Unlike drywall ductwork is not porous it is metal so you wouldn't expect to treat a solid surface the sameway.... Not saying mold isn't bad some forms are. I'm just not sure replacing your duct work makes sense financially or even effectively. I will definitely agree finding the source only makes sense. As an anecdotal aside we had a faux leather couch in the basement covered in mold because a wall was leaking water due to poorly designed roof drainage issues. I didn't want to move it before at least doing something to prevent the spores from going everywhere while handling it. So I saturated the entire couch with 1/4 part vinegar with a spray bottle and didn't have anyone to help me move it for weeks. I went down to clear a path and the mold/mildew is gone?
Thank You for your much honest reply. I had an Evaporator Coil Cleaning in October of 2021. It was a very dirty sight. I called in an A/C Company to Clean this much needed need. I asked the Owner's to give me English Speaking Class People. This was not so. I had to have a friend to tell me this much needed need. Please don't bring only Spanish Worker's without an English Speaking. Not everyone can be. As for your help, I want to ask, can an Evaporator Coil System Unit not be placed into the A/C Unit correctly after putting this Evaporator Coil back in place? Being said this, my Filter Cage is uneven once I close up the Filter Unit. Giving off a dirt smell as if never was cleaned. Can you give me anymore points what could cause this smell? I also read about drainage from outside. This can be stuffed, causing unwanted odors. Thank You!
Man the number of customers I come across who just don't understand or even care to address the problem is crazy. I don't what was going on in the industry before I got in but there's a huge trust issue between customer and HVAC techs, the company I'm with now doesn't even allow us to call it "mold" we call it "bacterial growth" and that somehow ease's the customers mind🤦🏿♂️ I don't get it.
As someone in this situation. Call around.... try to get someone to help you. I would bet 75% of the people you talk to will try to rip you off or say its not worth there time. We have had a half dozen people here at this point and each one called the other a liar and after finally getting someone out here that we know just wants to help all 6 people were trying to rip us off. Most are sales people who don't know anything and just want to sell you a new system or duct work and the few smaller operations that sent techs would also rather sell you a new system or duct work because they make more money that way. Its not just HVAC... its most other industries also. Its quite sad what our county has become.
That depends on many things. The type of duct (rigid, flex), the amount of duct required (length, number of branch runs), where it is (attic, crawl space). Expect $2000 and up.
I don't see many of them here. However, I believe they are what is now known as Coleman which is a York brand. They aren't my favorite, but some really like them.
can verify that mold can make you very ill and can kill you. Over half million types of mold and the worst ones are horrible. For those that have breathing problems from mold, the one thing that saved me was powerful colloidal silver.
Hey, mold assessor here. I really love your perspective and I'm glad to see this kind of content.
The reason why we recommend removing drywall that has been wet is because it is porous and full of substrate that mold can grow on. Cleaning the surface of drywall still allows mold growth to be harbored within the entire drywall board. However, when it comes to flex duct there is no cellulose fiber for mold to grow on. Once you clean the dust and particulate out of the ductwork, the substrate for mold growth is gone. That's why we don't recommend the replacement of ductwork.
Appreciate your work. Keep making good videos!
Kyle! You should be a guest interviewee on our channel!
@@NewHVACGuide not an expert on it, but have experience with it, for sure. When massive amounts of mold in ductwork, ideally want to replace as it is said that even dead mold is unhealthy. With all the nooks and crannies in ductwork, can't imagine it all coming out easily, so imo, better to replace in some cases. Not advice, just do your homework peeps.
Great video. Problem with calling a "professional" in is, professionals are far and few between and 9 out of 10 people are trying to rip you off.
True
That’s because doing the real work is often much more challenging than making it *look like* you’re working. Knowing what work needs to be done is another lacking industry standard, this video can help consumers.
Often remediation is based on seeking insurance settlement money from *pictures* NOT based on thorough evidence-based testing and inspection. Insurance isn’t incentivized toward “complete” solutions, when sufficient solutions to ‘close the claim’ are cheaper!
3rd party inspections ARE recommended, but usually don’t happen.
I am so grateful for this video! We recently found mold in our garage that was the result of a leaking shower head in our master bathroom which is right above the garage. We had a mold inspector come and they checked the air quality and conducted surface tests on our returns. Mold spores were found on our returns which leads me to believe that there is mold in our ductwork. I live in Maryland and I really wish your company served our area! Thanks for the great information. This is information that all homeowners need to know and I think regularly inspecting your home's air quality and even getting a mold test should be a part of regular home maintenance.
Hello - I am curious if you ever found a cause/solution to the mold growth you were seeing on your return vent? I just moved into a rental and have this and am very concerned. Not sure how to address it. Thanks in advance!
I totally agree with the lack of guarantee for duct cleaning with mold
I’m going to venture out on a limb and say you probably don’t need to rip out and replace all of the ductwork in your house due to mold. You should most definitely have it checked and thoroughly cleaned if suspected mold is verified. No you don’t typically need to move out of the home.
Also for those who are concerned about who the professionals are you can always ask to see their NADCA certification. Thats a good indicator of both knowledge and experience.
There must be an exception to your replace it all philosophy.
The only pure HVAC work i did was a couple years in the 90's as a service tech in Savannah GA, but they did ductwork installation as well. It was always QUALITY... all sheet metal. No foamboard, no flex duct, You may have to replace the insulation wrapping it if it got moldy, but replacing the metal ductwork would be insane. Even using your drywall-in-a-flood logic.
They replace the porous drywall... not the framing it was screwed to.
Love that this was said. You cannot guarantee mold spores are gone. If it were me I would leave the house and everything in it behind.
Where’s these houses you left? 🙂
We never had mold issues until we had a new HVAC system installed, 3 years later there is thick black colored mold all over the vents, and it blows black dust on surfaces. There is also a ton of humidity, so much that it causes doors to swell and become difficult to open/close.
Was the new system "upsized" at all? Sounds like it's not running long enough to remove humidity. The longer a system runs, the more moisture it pulls from the air. At minimum, I'd say you need a dehumidifier installed as suggested in this video. You definitely need some duct cleaning.
@@grantp6451 Thank you. I don’t believe it was upsized at all. I will pass your recommendations on to my husband. Also… is an HVAC system supposed to sound like Godzilla when it kicks on (heat)? It’s so loud you can hear it at the end of the street. It’s also very loud in the house, but it sounds like Jurassic Park outside.
@@ellaboobella8770 Excessive startup noise is often caused by equipment placement that requires more force to get moving. For example, if the line that goes from the outdoor unit goes straight up a wall to an air handler in an attic it has to push that refrigerant up the line which puts more stress on the compressor until the refrigerant gets moving. There are some band-aids that can be added to the system to help with that. A basic solutions is a "hard-start kit". It's basically just a capacitor which serves as an energy reservoir to make sure there's enough power available when the initial demand spikes, which contributes to part of the noise. Another, more advanced band-aid is the Micro-Air EasyStart. It also utilizes a capacitor, but additionally starts the fan separately from the compressor which cuts down on noise at startup.
If the unit is extra noisy at all times, it's possible that it could benefit from rubber pads underneath.
@@grantp6451 Great information! Thank you. Definitely worth considering. Is there some reason why it does this only on heat?’as far as constant noise, when the ac runs it’s pretty loud. Ours is the only one on the street you can hear.
@@ellaboobella8770 When in heat mode, the reversing valve puts the system in reverse. So instead of expelling heat through the outdoor unit, it sends the heat into the air handler. The outdoor fan doesn't run in this cycle, and should just be the compressor. It's possible that the fan's noise helps to drown out the compressor noise in cooling mode and you notice it less. Kind of like when you get off the highway and notice the radio seems louder because there is no more wind/tire noise.
Another band-aid for compressor noise, that may actually come on some high-end models, is a compressor blanket. It's a sound deadening wrap that is placed around the compressor itself. That paired with some rubber pads/feet underneath the whole unit should provide some relief.
Thank you. Never knew about UV light and ionizers. Great tips
Most intelligent video regarding hvac issues. So few contractors are educated on mold.
Thank you so much for sharing. I live in an apartment building where they have never - in the 6 years living there - cleaned the a/c ducts. I got sick several days after Thanksgiving last year after turning on my a/c. I was diagnosed with bacterial bronchitis and admitted to the hospital for 4 days. I believe there was mold in the air duct. I'm about to purchase a home and insisting that the seller have the air ducts cleaned. Thanks again.
not all duct cleaning companies are created equal-look up CLO2 for duct cleaning and also sanitizing.
Here on CO it is pretty dry. We have radon so you need to have a fan in your attic, seal all cracks in expansion joints. Seal the sump pump too. Having lived in WI for many years I don't want a humidifier on my furnace. Lol
Thank you for making this. I enjoyed the knowledge.
You gave us sooo much good information! Tysm
I grew up in Gloucester. Nice to see the success you are having on the UA-cam!
Nice! We go to Gloucester a lot. My wife’s fave restaurant is Olivia’s
My parents are big fans of Olivia's!
Some people either don't have bath fans in an older house or even vent them into the attic instead of venting them through the roof.
My house doesn't have a vent in our bathroom. Something we do is put a couple bottles of frozen water in there whenever someone takes a shower to help remove the moisture from the air. The bottles sit in little trays for flower pots so we can collect the water and dump it down the sink. It would be super expensive to run a fan vent on there so I want to eventually remodel the bathroom a bit so I can get a dehumidifier installed in there.
I have a mold allergy and just moved into a new apartment, I had to leave the last one because I had terrible asthma attacks. Now I can’t breathe at the new place. The hvac company said it would cost 3,500$ and my landlord said she’d have a guy come clean it because that price is insulting. I pay 600$ a month for inhalers and allergy shots. I’m so upset and don’t know what to do.
move into a place with window units that you can keep clean. No duct work.
Whole house air filter, UV light
A. 4 inch pleated media filter, 11 MERV minimum (10:30)
B. UV light (11:37)
C. Ionizers (12:06)
A. 4 inch pleated media filter, 11 MERV minimum (10:30)
B. UV light (11:37)
C. Ionizers (12:06)
Thanks… legend has it, hes still rambling till this day.
@@Boaters_hub lol
Very very basic.
Thanks so much for changing out duct comment! I've REALLY been wondering if that could really be cleaned enough. And thanks also for the other info, all helpful!
Thanks for watching!
My daughter has been having severe head aches to the point she’s referred to a neurologist and we live in louisiana n our humidity in our house is 80 percent last I remember testing a year ago. We have cedar walls throughout this house and in 2 bedrooms there’s black mold growing on the walls n u cannot clean off so it’s saturated or coming from inside. Now the ceiling in hallway is covered in black mold and the air vents have mold growing around them. People have told me I worry too much and just bc it is the color black doesn’t mean it’s the dangerous kind. I’m glad I watched this video!!!😢
Get you and your family out of there until th emold is remediated. It is not something to mess with. People who tell you you worry too much are highly uneducated in the harms of mold. Most people don't learn about it until they're deeply affected by it.
How much did it cost you to remedy it
I agree 💯 get rid of all the ductwork I’ve never been a big fan of cleaning flex or duct board. By the time someone has paid for their ductwork to be cleaned there about half the cost of all new ductwork.
Very true sir. Definitely true if they’re having it done right. Not one of these cheap advertisements we see
What is a reasonable cost for installation of all of this?
Hey dude, I just wanted to let you know you're AWESOME! Thanks for this video!
Thank you for your kind words! Join us on our live show Tuesday night!
I put one of those rolling ones in my brother's home after about 6 inches of water,and that piece of luggage was throwing water outside in minutes...gallons. lol
Dude, if the mold is in the coils or ductwork, its PAST the filter.
Great info! I’m currently dealing with a strange issue of strong chemical smell from one of my ac vents. My husband doesn’t smell it but It’s making me very sick. I’m starting to think I’m crazy or have a brain tumor. Ugg
lol story of my life
What did you end up doing
@@JoJo-op5xy became a super human
On older home the intake won't accommodate a 4 inch wide fter
An ozone machine is used for mold , mildew , smells , etc
WONDERFUL information. I knew I should have been sleeping out in the teepee for the last 2 years. (I just need new poles (27'x17 poles)) it's a BIG teepee!
This was insanely helpful even though you didn't show me anything I now know so much about what's going on with my wife's headaches. Just check the air handler uh oh Houston we have a problem
I have a genetic inflammatory disease induced by mold.
I have been disabled and gone into poverty because this is not recognized as a disability.
When I moved into the current condo I lived, I personally had the HVAC system tested. It came back with condemned levels of dust-living mold. I have nowhere else to live (can barely afford food), so I shut down my HVAC and am forced to live with no heat or AC in my apartment.
Because it is a part of an HOA living community, I cannot remove the walls to change the ducts either.
I do the best I can to keep the mold levels low in my apartment-- low humidity, low moisture, frequent cleaning. Unless I win the lotto, this is the best I'll get. My skin and hair suffer the most but I think it's only mild compared to other people.
Not doubting your condition but that’s not exactly how genetics work.
The so called mold gene is actually a Human Leukocyte antigen, or HLA. So it’s actually the presence of HLA imprinted on chromosome 6 if I remember correctly.
@@billparris210 Yes, exactly, it's the HLA-DR issue. Not many people know about it so it's easier to describe it the way I did shorthand.
I'm glad someone else knows what I'm talking about! I have the multisusceptibility variation which means I'm like a canary in a coal mine with not just mold, but chemicals and horrible pathogen die-offs. There aren't that many doctors willing to address it (and it's not practical to just avoid everything in the world), so it's pretty much roulette with food and skincare products and when I get sick I get Jarvis Herximers a lot.
I wish more people knew about it. It would totally change how we prescribe medications.
Mold can be cleaned from coik and air handle if it hasnt gotten bad in the duct. Put a uv light i the cabinet pull and clean the coil then install i wave r or reme halo
One duct has a little mold can I still put in the light
We have a honeywell uv light in ours at the coil inside the airhandler. Where else should we put 1 in the system?
What if you live in apartment complex and they dont keep up properly..i been having issues since i lived here congested , bronchitis and pneumonia put me in hospital few yrs ago. I was never sick until i moved here other than yes maybe get normal flu once in 10 yrs
Is the reme halo considered an ionizer or UV light?
I dont think the apartment complex i live in cares enough to cut out the mold growing on my walls, let alone, the fact that my ac unit is caked with gunk and probably most definitely mold......hmmm
Eek!
Ty for your channel and great information. Help!!!! I live in Florida and my central ac works great temperature wise, but, it smells like cat urine terribly. I have no pets and there are no dead rodents. We just looked up in attic where the filter and coils are. Am I able to clean the coils? Thankyou so much.
Testing air is pointless. Ermi testing is the gold standard.
Great topic and presentation! Mr. G! What are your thoughts about treating homes with Ozone gas..? 🤔
At low doses ot is safe. O3. Functional medicine doctors use it to treat blood.
Is it possible to kill mold with some fogging ? Cans of special smoke maybe ?
Got to stop all your leaks that you may have.
FLIR scanners can determine this.
Seal these leaks.
Chlorine Dioxide Fumigation works well (Post mold remediation)
You will need 1 gram per sq ft to make this work and you have to place your fumigation stations in sepearate rooms and one in front of your return vent while running the system at MAX
I have a home dehumidifier running all the time, Remi-Halo ionizer installed, along with UV light at the AC coil area.
There is no mold in HVAC unit.
However, there is mold everywhere in duct work.
Can you explain and recommend solution? Thanks bro.
I install a Reme halo on every new install and a 5 inch Merv 11 filter. I actually have a customer that mold has entered there blood.
Great video though
Do you know anyone in the Philadelphia area. I have this problem but no one can seem to help me
I have a downflow furnace with a AC coil at the bottom attaching to the supply plenum below the floor, in the crawlspace. I removed the housing door to the AC coil and looked into the supply plenum. I can see rust on the bottom of the supply plenum, so it looks like my AC pan overflowed at various times leaving standing water inside the supply plenum. I can't find a float switch on the AC coil cabinet. I'd like to evacuate, and store, the freon, remove the AC coil to access the plenum, and clean out the rust. Is this a common problem? How do you address this kind of problem? How would you clean the rust from the plenum?
I bought a OdorStop OS144PRO UV Air Purifier 144W System. It has 4 16 inch bulbs. I plan on installing it above my acoil. I know it will prevent mold from growing where it shines but will it actually kill any mold that is already there or kill mold down line in my ducting ? I don't understand why people say that placing in the ducting cleans the air better if all air that goes through all the ducts passes through the acoil. Also does heat hurt the bulbs for when winter comes and now there is heat going through my system. My system does both heat and cool. Thanks
Did you find out the answer to this
@JoJo-op5xy according to the manufacturer conversation I had it wont kill mold down line only where it shines and what air passes through it.
A side note. All four of my bulb failed within 5 months and they had to send me new ones. I haveba feeling these bulbs are very poorly made. Time will tell as they stated soemtimes there are bad bulbs.
I live in Charlotte, NC Who would you recommend that I call. Live in a manufactured home with HVAC. PLEASE help as I have chronic migraines. The system is not that old and had the crawl space encapsulated. Lord please help!
Might be outgassing from materials in MH
Call Stop Restoration
After we installed a UV light there was a odd smell coming from the area, do you have any insight that you can offer to why a smell would be coming from the light? It’s like a heater coming on smell? Thank you
Did you ever find that andwer
UV light creates Ozone gas. It is antimocrobial.
Plastic is melting
I’m calling mold inspection companies. 3500 sq ft home is $1000 with samples in DFW area.
10 years ago I had round hard ductwork installed and it’s cooled the house better than ever. Recently I called a company to check for a leak in my unit and they ended up sending out a couple guys to give me a estimate on a new system. We had heavy rain the previous day and they told me they couldn’t price a new unit without new ductwork as it got wet and had water inside.
The ductwork was installed with hangers and may appear it’s laying on the moisture barrier but it may just be the insulation that got wet. I don’t see how they can tell if water is inside. It’s a large heavy duct . They left without giving me a quote because I declined new ductwork. What do you think?
I have Merv 11 along with a 1500.00 apparatus to aid in cleaning the air.. Got a reverse osmosis equipment for the water..I need help..I've only lived here for 2 years with the majority of time out the home..No one really wants to help...just a lot of getting the money, then disappeared...
Been sick ever since I've moved from the north to southern Georgia..Never had allergies..and doctors in Georgia didn't listen...I'm currently going back and forth from Georgia to Pennsylvania to get help..seeing doctors..My head hurts continously.... Currently have 8 test to see what's happening to my body...Please help..
Have you had a mold test done in your home?
you got mold. I have similar symptoms. made me very sick
If there’s mold in the coil I’d replace the coil imo I wouldn’t clean cause just like the ducts you can’t 100% guarantee that you get it all out.
(1) I'm located in the mountains of southern CA. None of the UV lights on Amazon are able to be shipped to CA. Any suggestions? (2) I only have a furnace (no AC coils). Where would you recommend I install a UV light? Seems like installing a light just above my furnace burners would melt the light, but also wouldn't the burners kill any mold that may have built up over the summer?
Excellent video. Wish you were near me.👍
Maybe one day!
They didn’t remove the bottom of the house. They removed the interior portion of drywall and then they cleaned the other side of that they didn’t get rid of the wires they didn’t get rid of the housewrap they didn’t get rid of the exterior cladding. They removed one part, the easy and cheap part to remove, and they cleaned the other part just like duck cleaning, if they can afford to replace all the ductwork and HVAC systems perfect but a good solution if they can’t afford all that is duck cleaning and you’re right they cannot guarantee that they got every mold spore but they can do a pretty good job and it’s pretty cost-effective
Mold takes down the immune system fast! Medical Meium has a mild podcast that talks deeply into what it does.
Thanks pal. Dave Asprey talks a lot about mold and illness too
Where can I find this 60% humidity written as a threshold to meet? I need to show it to someone.
They found mold in two vents and the
a/c. They want to clean the machine and vent and then they want to add a halo air purifier with hydrogen peroxide. I want to test it. But we remodel the house no mold. Just there. Is that ok?
Not sure I could tell you that it’s ok.
how much do you charge for UV lights and what kind do you install, we use green uv and charge around 899 to install it
How do the ducts usually get mold?
" I'm not an expert but you should move out of your house" Yeah, right.
Can a 20 year-old HVAC system infested with mold be properly remediated or does it need to be replaced? Cladosporium was found in the HVAC unit and in the ductwork. I’m a sick renter. I paid to have the ducts deep-cleaned, which helped some, but air quality expert confirmed mold is still present.
Lmk if you find the answer
You really cant clean flex duct. Change it out at least every 15 years.
Wait a second now you’re saying you can’t clean the ductwork but you can clean and treat the HVAC system I guess the same question can you guarantee you got every mold spore out?
I was going to move into a apartment that is a 2 bedroom 2 bath for only 1100 dollars in Orlando until I saw the coils and mold dark thick black mold and black mold on the vent hell no. I my opinion you need to change the entire system once it's that bad.
I’m having issues now with my apartment complex in Orlando. I been here since October of 2022 and now smelling this musty smell. Looked at the vents and was scared. It was covered with mold and mildew. I am a hurricane Irma victim and was trying to find a place to leave asap and didn’t fully look at the vents. The ducts are molded and not sure what to do.
@AprLuvProduction22 you must move, please. This is your health mold will kill you slowly. There is nothing they can do unless they replace all the vents and ac system. You can break the lease on the grounds of it not being safe. Talk to the manager try to get into another unit and check the vents if not move asap.
I've paid Two supposed experts 🙄 I have seen dried mold in furnace vents.
Oh no! I hope they get that taken care of!
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I fix really nasty systems with only 2uv lights and 90% with only 1 I think 3 or 4 is overkill they use 220vl plus bulbs are xpensive
I'm one of the people who died from it so I can definitely vouch for what this bearded lady is saying
Dear ghost of Peter Griffin ... your ethereal spirit is cordially invited to spend a few months on the Gulf Coast during hurricane season. Too bad you didn't have relatives who DID die (as some of us did) from the toxicity of black mold thanks to little guys like "Ike", "Katrina", or "Harvey". Some molds look like beards, but aren't.
How did you comeback to life ?
What do you mean you died? Did u have NDE as well?
Rude!
Why did you even come to watch this. Was it just to be an ass?
Have you ever seen mold in a return duct? I have a mystery mold issue, nothing visible, no smell, been dealing with it ever since I moved in (Houston TX). I only feel it in my lungs, no nose problems. Had the ducts cleaned twice. Ducts to the vents have been replaced. Also added a UV light, new coil, whole home filter added. But my suspect air return... I have an air return on the 2nd floor near my kitchen. The HVAC cleaner told me the kitchen return had lots of grease, all the way up in the attic above the 3rd floor where the return connects to the HVAC system. The kitchen stove didn't have a vent hood before I moved in, I've since added one venting outside. I'm wondering if that much grease is in the return, could that cause mold growth? One HVAC guy said, "I've been doing this for 30 years, I've never seen mold in a return".
Hello - I am curious if you ever found a cause/solution to the mold growth you were seeing on your return vent? I just moved into a rental and have this on the return only and am very concerned. Not sure how to address it. Thanks in advance!
@@missr9445 It's not my return. I'm still hunting it down, but I've narrowed the field significantly. I've replaced all the attic ducting and all the returns. A/C has been replaced. The only duct left is going out to my second floor, it's located in the chase. I suspect the chase isn't sealed properly allowing hot air from the attic inside, and next to the cold air from the duct work it creates the mold situation. If that's not it, maybe the flex ducts into my living room and kitchen are damaged, also causing a mix of hot/cold air.
@@kristfurany update? Having this issue myself
@@tyronehoustonson2944 Sadly haven't figured it out yet. Just had a blower door test done. My dehumidifiers are pulling down 4 gallons of water a day. The test told me my house is about the right amount of tightness. So excess moisture must be from the HVAC. There are a couple spots on the HVAC in the attic that are blowing cold air out. Presumably that's maybe where attic air is coming into the system. I sealed them up last night. Having another HVAC "expert" come by Tuesday.
@kristfur wonder if the air from the attic coming in is causing the issues we're feeling?
My unit is 5 years old ( carrier) last 2 years HVAC company said I have mold, he vacuums it, sprays it and leaves. He said I need 1k for lights, and acid wash. I also am having breathing problems.I bought a dehumidifier, that I dump 3xs a day 50 pint. He told me to lower my AC to 74, from 76? I also am concerned about duct work! I am in Florida, my house is 900 sf. And the compressor is 2 1/2 ton. I was told that should NOT be? Should lights been installed when unit was? Help!!
you might not be well insulated
First subscribe before even watching the video? So he sells ductwork gee go figure. Unlike drywall ductwork is not porous it is metal so you wouldn't expect to treat a solid surface the sameway....
Not saying mold isn't bad some forms are. I'm just not sure replacing your duct work makes sense financially or even effectively. I will definitely agree finding the source only makes sense.
As an anecdotal aside we had a faux leather couch in the basement covered in mold because a wall was leaking water due to poorly designed roof drainage issues. I didn't want to move it before at least doing something to prevent the spores from going everywhere while handling it. So I saturated the entire couch with 1/4 part vinegar with a spray bottle and didn't have anyone to help me move it for weeks. I went down to clear a path and the mold/mildew is gone?
I don’t sell ductwork 🙂
Thank You for your much honest reply. I had an Evaporator Coil Cleaning in October of 2021. It was a very dirty sight. I called in an A/C Company to Clean this much needed need. I asked the Owner's to give me English Speaking Class People. This was not so. I had to have a friend to tell me this much needed need. Please don't bring only Spanish Worker's without an English Speaking. Not everyone can be. As for your help, I want to ask, can an Evaporator Coil System Unit not be placed into the A/C Unit correctly after putting this Evaporator Coil back in place? Being said this, my Filter Cage is uneven once I close up the Filter Unit. Giving off a dirt smell as if never was cleaned. Can you give me anymore points what could cause this smell? I also read about drainage from outside. This can be stuffed, causing unwanted odors. Thank You!
Good video! Do you service North Texas?
No sorry. We are in Virginia
Man the number of customers I come across who just don't understand or even care to address the problem is crazy. I don't what was going on in the industry before I got in but there's a huge trust issue between customer and HVAC techs, the company I'm with now doesn't even allow us to call it "mold" we call it "bacterial growth" and that somehow ease's the customers mind🤦🏿♂️ I don't get it.
As someone in this situation. Call around.... try to get someone to help you. I would bet 75% of the people you talk to will try to rip you off or say its not worth there time. We have had a half dozen people here at this point and each one called the other a liar and after finally getting someone out here that we know just wants to help all 6 people were trying to rip us off. Most are sales people who don't know anything and just want to sell you a new system or duct work and the few smaller operations that sent techs would also rather sell you a new system or duct work because they make more money that way. Its not just HVAC... its most other industries also. Its quite sad what our county has become.
How much dose new ductwork cost
That depends on many things. The type of duct (rigid, flex), the amount of duct required (length, number of branch runs), where it is (attic, crawl space). Expect $2000 and up.
I laugh at all your solutions from my rented apartment.
I thought HVAC guys always recommended Merv 8
Hello, I was wondering in your professional opinion if you had any opinion or knowledge on EVCON central air unit?
I don't see many of them here. However, I believe they are what is now known as Coleman which is a York brand. They aren't my favorite, but some really like them.
Thankyou for the info I appreciate it very much.
Hire an industrial hygienist and do what they tell you to do
I know how to treat bad mold jobs.
Do you treat mold in homes in Kansas?
Good video! Mold lowers the immune system so chronic illness can take up. White blood cells get used up.
can verify that mold can make you very ill and can kill you. Over half million types of mold and the worst ones are horrible. For those that have breathing problems from mold, the one thing that saved me was powerful colloidal silver.
I can't even lie. I really thought this was Josh Allen. At first thought I clicked the wrong video
I wish! I’d trade him paychecks! Haha
I feel u on that. I'm sure you better at your job than he is lol
Who?
STOP TELLING PEOPLE TO SUBSCRIBE, believe me if they like the video, THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO
UA-cam makes it very clear that creators should tell pplbto like & subscribe in every video... it really nbd
Remediation is a rip -off!
That mold stuff is a scam!
You talk too much!
Hey guys, hey guys, hey guys, hey guys, hey guys, hey guys, hey guys, hey guys, hey guys, hey guys, hey guys.......................hey
Talk talk talk. Fkn terrible
Sorry pal!
Where's YOUR brilliant video? LOL