Just today, I received a call from my best and favorite handyman. He had been called out to a customer’s home due to a small water spot, about two inches, on her ceiling. Upon investigating, he determined the spot was still wet, and when he opened up the ceiling, it revealed massive mold contamination. The cause: Condensation of an HVAC line between the first and second floors of her home. She reported having had severe sinus issues for some time now. He replied, “You might have just found the cause.”
These calls are common. Excluding floods, tropical storms, and hurricanes, most mold issues come from common household problems. Whether from a water leak or high humidity, mold will grow in 24–48 hours and feed on many common household items.
The Danger of Mold
As mold grows, it produces a byproduct called mycotoxin. As the name implies, it is a dangerous toxin that can cause health conditions in humans and animals. Currently, the research shows only certain species of mold produce these toxins. That’s the good news. The bad news is that some of the most common molds in households produce mycotoxins.
Mold is usually microscopic and unseen by the naked eye. So when you “see” mold, be aware that a one-inch square can contain millions of spores that can easily be disturbed to allow the spores and hyphal fragments to circulate in the air through your HVAC system. This cross-contamination makes mold so difficult to remediate in a home or office.
Common issues we find during mold inspections:
- Water leaks: ice makers, under sinks, dishwashers, washers
- Window or roof leaks
- History of previous leaks or floods
- HVAC condensation and or clogged drains
- HVAC not controlling humidity
- Humidity! We live in Florida, and we must monitor and control our indoor humidity
The Importance of a Proper HVAC System
One of the most common species, Aspergillus/Penicillium, produces not only mold but dangerous mycotoxins and grows in high humidity, 60% or higher – no direct water required. And this species can look like dust, so it often goes overlooked.
HVAC is critical in the control of humidity and mold growth. The following are the settings that need to be checked.
- Size of HVAC Unit: Is the HVAC sized properly for the home’s square footage? This is critical in controlling humidity. If the unit is too small, it runs all the time and creates a never-ending struggle to not only cool but keep down humidity. If my unit is larger than I need, it cools fast and turns off quickly. This does not allow enough run time to do its second job: dehumidification.
- Testing Your System: To test your HVAC, it should run at least 20 minutes per hour. If your unit runs shorter cycles, it most likely is NOT running long enough to remove the humidity.
- Thermostat Settings: If you keep your temperature setting too high (78 degrees or higher), your unit may need to run longer to have a chance to remove the humidity.
- Fan On Setting: Always have your fan set on auto. If you always have your fan on when your unit runs rather than having it at the auto setting, moisture may accumulate on the coil as it removes humidity. The unit may turn off, but the fan is still blowing, picking up that moisture on the coils it just removed and blowing it back into the room, creating humidity.
- Condensation or a stopped-up drain line.
With every mold-toxic patient we have worked with, the HVAC was a significant contributing factor. Without a doubt, mold can create allergy-like symptoms. Ear, nose, and throat specialists tell us that about 80% of their patients with chronic sinus issues are related to mold. And when you consider the mold species that produce mycotoxins, you get into much more severe health issues. We have worked with patients experiencing chronic pain, chronic illness, brain fog, abdominal pains, body twitches, memory issues, rashes, ringing in the ears, sensory issues, body bloated, extreme fatigue, and more.
Regardless of whether you see mold or just suspect that it’s there, the prudent action is to get your home analyzed to evaluate species and see if counts appear in the “safe” range. As the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) states, “All mold is bad and needs to be removed.”
Home Maintenance Is Key
Your office or home must be maintained. Besides being on the lookout for leaks and condensation, it is wise to invest in several humidity meters to place throughout your home to routinely monitor. Make sure your humidity is under 60% at all times. I recently installed two new units in my home, which run at 42% humidity most of the time.
Clean your space regularly, as mold loves to feed on dust. Change out your furnace filters regularly with a MERV 8-rated filter. And if you feel physically better when you are away from your home or office, consider having a mold assessment.
With what we now know about mold and health issues, it’s nothing to ignore. Reach out to info@americanmoldexperts.com. to learn more.
Julie Nicoll is a fully licensed and bonded, women-owned business with two generations in the mold remediation business. She holds educational sessions for industry conferences and is a regular author of issues related to mold, mycotoxins, and patient mold illness, having herself been a victim of mold toxicity. She and her partner developed a green solution alternative to removing toxic mold and mycotoxins.
Julie can be reached at: info@americanmoldexperts.com.