They can grow on the metal of the vent itself or in the roof floor or wall that it sits on.
What does mold in air vents look like.
According to the cdc the type of mold isn t important.
Symptoms to watch for.
Mold in air vents.
Mold in air ducts most commonly occurs when there is moisture inside the ductwork.
If the air vent is very old and rusted it is a good idea to scrape away all rust and rough patches with a wire brush.
Common causes of black mold in air vents.
One of the first signs that black mold is growing in your air vents is a distinct musty mildew like smell in specific rooms or even throughout your entire home.
Condenser coils pull moisture out of the air and into drip pans and if these become clogged they create the perfect environment for mold to grow.
Look for the first signs of mold around ac vents in the ducts and in the drip pans.
It is best to go ahead and treat the vent if you see or smell mold without taking steps to determining exactly what type of mold might be present.
You can see the same principle at work when you drink an icy beverage and water beads up on the outside of the glass.
When the heat or air conditioning is turned on hundreds of thousands of mold spores blow out into the house.
Take a good look and a good whiff at the vent.
Those mold spores can make you sick.
You may also be able to see the presence of mold around drip pans air ducts and within intake vents.
Most often if there is mold growing you ll be able to see visible spores on or around the vent.
Mold in hvac heating ventilation and air conditioning systems like that shown below is particularly problematic because homeowners often don t realize it s there.
In addition mold may appears as spots or different colors and it often has a distinct odor.
Black mold in your air vents can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms and health problems.
After cleaning the air vent and letting it dry i highly recommend coating the air vent with a sealing spray paint such as kilz which will help prevent new mold growth.
The symptoms may vary from person to person and can also depend on the length of exposure and the amount of spores inhaled.