Black mold in central air system.

[jdsl1998]

On an inspection, an HVAC contractor found black mold in our central air system. His recommended solution: 1. Clean the evaporator coil in place, 2. Pull the blower and clean, 3. Duct fogging, and 4. Install a U.V. light to prevent further growth. All of this at a estimated cost of $1025. Ouch. Any recommendations?

[JAV0108]

I would get a second opinion. My neighbor was told the same thing from an "HVAC" contractor. Said contractor and company he worked for told everyone that. Check with BBB and call the Seniors Crime line to check on the company your contractor is from. There are so many ways to rip us seniors off. I'm not saying your contractor is not on the up and up, I am saying, get a second opinion.

[buggyone]

Call another contractor and get a second opinion is my first suggestion. Next, call Seniors vs Crime and see if the HVAC contractor has any complaints against him.

Chuck Farrell is a good HVAC man.

[redwitch]

Black mold in AC is a common scam. It's been around for at least 15 years. Black mold can occur but it is very rare. Definitely get a second opinion from someone reputable like Chuck Farrell. If you find it's a scam, please report it and also let us know who tried to scam you so we can be aware. Thanks (and good luck).

[marlinguy]

Don't clean the coil in place. Have it removed to clean. That's the only way to really clean it and get max efficiency. All the suggestions are good ones including the UV light. Is there a lot of construction that had been going on at sometime nearby? Lots of dust in the air? Do you change filters regularly? Monthly? Do you have a service contract? Are you here full time? All important factors to consider. I would think $600-$650 if no other factors.

South Florida Resident for 68 years.

[rubicon]

We had a service contractor suggest the same solution UV light duct cleaning etc. My wife use to work for a major company that did commercial building and I have asked her to contact some of the HVAC guys she knows to see what the truth is

[gomoho]

Agree on getting a 2nd opinion. Chuck Farrell is an excellent recommendation and I have experienced and only heard great things about Munns.

[ronsroni]

This exact thing just happened to us and it was, in fact, dirt. The 2nd opinion won us over and saved us a fistful of cash. It ticks me off beyond belief when these guys/gals try to sink their teeth in and gouge our eyes out. Shame on the shammer.

[rjm1cc]

On an inspection, an HVAC contractor found black mold in our central air system. His recommended solution: 1. Clean the evaporator coil in place, 2. Pull the blower and clean, 3. Duct fogging, and 4. Install a U.V. light to prevent further growth. All of this at a estimated cost of $1025. Ouch. Any recommendations?

Fortunately no first hand experience.
When we settled on new home we were told that it is best not to run the circulating fan full time. Reason let the duct dry out so mold could not get started. I think this was referring to the summer.
From a lecture 1 and 2 are reasonable. You should very easily be able to see the mold. Ask the contractor to show you.
Don't know any thing about 3 and 4.
Question. What maturely kills the mold. Cold? Heat? If it is dead do you have to do anything?
How did the contractor determined their was mold in the ducts? Camera or take it apart in several places.

[StarbuckSammy]

Who is the HVAC contractor?

[jdsl1998]

Thanks for all your good recommendations. I left a voicemail for Chuck Farrell to contact us for a second opinion. Any other ideas are still well taken. Thanks, again.

[pbeinetti]

Black mold in an HVAC system isn't unusual, especially in the summer months when the A/C is running and taking humidity out of the air. The A/C coils are constantly wet, and in the dark environment of the HVAC system mold grows rapidly. Last year we had our system inspected by a contractor and he said the same thing these people were told. I had him show me the mold, and sure enough it was there -- very bad. We had bought the house pre-owned one year earlier and evidently the previous owner had not had the system cleaned -- maybe ever. The contractor cleaned the system for about $150. It took him over 2 hours, and he did a good job. He suggested I install a UV light to make sure mold doesn't grow. He quoted me over $1000, and I thought that was way too steep. Since then I purchased a UV light system for $150 and installed it myself. I've opened the HVAC up a few times since I installed the UV -- no mold! I also have an Aprilaire air cleaner.

[rjm1cc]

Black mold in an HVAC system isn't unusual, especially in the summer months when the A/C is running and taking humidity out of the air. The A/C coils are constantly wet, and in the dark environment of the HVAC system mold grows rapidly. Last year we had our system inspected by a contractor and he said the same thing these people were told. I had him show me the mold, and sure enough it was there -- very bad. We had bought the house pre-owned one year earlier and evidently the previous owner had not had the system cleaned -- maybe ever. The contractor cleaned the system for about $150. It took him over 2 hours, and he did a good job. He suggested I install a UV light to make sure mold doesn't grow. He quoted me over $1000, and I thought that was way too steep. Since then I purchased a UV light system for $150 and installed it myself. I've opened the HVAC up a few times since I installed the UV -- no mold! I also have an Aprilaire air cleaner.

Where did you place the UV light?

[KathieI]

A couple of years ago, I had a bad flood in my house for a few weeks before noticing it and developed a bad case of mold in the living room, garage, dining room and laundry room. I had a wonderful contractor work on it removing the mold, water, walls and redoing construction in the house. I developed pneumonia and had to move out of the house for 2 months. Floors had to be replaced also. When I moved back in, I was still having trouble breathing, and the contractor who is an expert in mold remediation, recommended a air duct cleaning company to me as he felt we probably had a problem in the air system that also occurred while the flood was going on. I posted the following information on TOTV at that time.

"Amazingly, I just had all my air ducts cleaned out a week ago, after having major construction work done in my house which left a lot of drywall dust and tile dust and was killing my sinuses. My contractor recommended a company to clean the ducts and his comments were that these people had the BEST type of method and expertise that he had ever seen. He was right. I was having severe breathing problems before they did their work. They came out with long hoses and literally scrubbers on the end and went into each and every vent and then sanitized and cleaned out my a/c unit. From that evening on, the air in my house is so fantastically clean and light, it was a tremendous difference.

"I would highly recommend TCB (Taking Care of Business) Duct Cleaning 352 867 9949. I also had him install a UV light inside the a/c unit which will also clean the air even more and kill any mold that might grow within the unit. I have severe allergies and will do anything to avoid sinusitis and pneumonia. I am very pleased with their expertise and they are very nice men. Tell them Kathie sent you... lol..."

[pbeinetti]

The UV lights (dual bulbs) were placed above the A/C coil, per instructions. Holes were drilled in the front face of the HVAC and the bulbs were inserted through the holes. The UV unit, which holds the bulbs, was attached to the front face of the HVAC on the outside.

[123Cookie]

another fix - is if it is in a location that can be seen - spray H202 (Hydrogen Peroxide on it) -- it will turn the black mold to a white powdery substance (now harmless) -- and can be brushed off - Hydrogen Peroxide will kill black mold -

[annmarie]

has anyone used air fresh what other companies are around?

[billethkid]

black mold in the indoor coil section IS a COMMON problem. Remember it is damp in there all the time the a/c is running.

When we replaced the indoor unit in our home in TN the coils were black. In the new unit we did opt for the UV light. It has kept the coil area mold free and looks today like the day it was installed. The UV virtually eliminates the mold from forming and being distributed throughout the house.

The black mold can most definitely be a problem.

I would get in touch with the people who installed the unit. How old is it?

[123Cookie]

black mold can be killed with a heavy spraying of Hydrogen Peroxide - found at any drug store - may have to spray it twice but will kill it and leave a harmless white residue.