Mold is a part of nature, and usually not a problem for people– until it comes indoors.  Believe it or not, the indoor spaces within a home are not normally hospitable environments for mold.  These spores prefer damp, dark places with little air movement, and as long as your home does not fit this description then they will not be able to survive and thrive there. 

Of course, a home that harbors moisture in the form of excessive humidity, or suffers from inadequate ventilation, may become the perfect breeding ground for these uninvited guests.   For instance, we often find mold growing inside dirty ductwork, damp basements and bathrooms that don’t have ventilating fans.

These spores can be harmful to your health.  They cause allergic reactions such as dermatitis, and can aggravate asthma or cause respiratory problems.  The key to reducing mold growth in the home is to reduce moisture levels and provide adequate ventilation and filtration.  This creates an inhospitable environment for these spores and prevents them from spreading throughout your home via your forced-air HVAC system.

You can use various means to reduce moisture,  Portable and whole-house dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air, warm it and release it back into your home as dry air.  Whole-house air purifiers (air cleaners) are installed on your home’s heating and cooling system and remove most of the airborne spores and other contaminants circulating throughout your home.

UV (ultraviolet) lights are another option for reducing spores and keeping them from reproducing.  A UV light unit is installed on your system so that air passing through it is disinfected.

A simple way to keep spores from growing?  Make sure that your A/C drain pans are emptied regularly.  Water that accumulates here is an ideal breeding ground for mold.

In Southwest Florida, moisture and high humidity can wreak havoc on indoor air quality.  But, if you keep your indoor environment dry and purified, not only will you be more comfortable; you will also shut the door on one guest that you certainly don’t want hanging around.  Want to learn more about clean indoor air?  Contact us!

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about mold and moisture in your home and other HVAC topics, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Conditioned Air services Southwest Florida including cities Marco Island, Ft. Myers or anywhere in between.  To get started, check out our website or see our special offers.