A few Questions:
Thanks for your help!
Background:
My mom lives off the Texas gulf coast, where it's hot and humid most of the year. She had a conventional AC system with the air handler with electric heating coils, and flex duct work in an uninsulated attic. I'm guessing there is also some metal duct leading to the first floor. She saw some dirt and/or mold issues (pic below) around a register and had out some duct cleaning guys, who told her there was mold in the system and that they needed to clean coils, ducting, 'sanitize' and mold remediate. Apparently there was some sort of duct cleaning a few years ago, as well.
I get uncomfortable around the topic of duct cleaning, especially when we're talking about flex duct and possible mold.
My initial thought is that a bulk sampling lab test should be performed. My knee jerk reaction is that if this is actually mold, we first need to determine what's causing the mold (maybe this is more common in that type of a climate) to remediate that, and possible duct work and air handler insulation replacement. I can only think (and hope!) there is duct liner inside that plenum that a duct cleaner will be unable to remediate without replacement.
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- Can flexible duct be remediated effectively for mold? I believe they are talking about a biocide (but... well, how do you get to all the surface area, and what does that do to IAQ)
- Would you rely on a duct cleaning company's experience to determine presence of mold, or require a lab test?
- If there is mold, can a duct cleaning company with experience and appropriate equipment handle this type of a job? If not, who?
- Per the below, what do you think is the 'smart' path forward?
Thanks for your help!
Background:
My mom lives off the Texas gulf coast, where it's hot and humid most of the year. She had a conventional AC system with the air handler with electric heating coils, and flex duct work in an uninsulated attic. I'm guessing there is also some metal duct leading to the first floor. She saw some dirt and/or mold issues (pic below) around a register and had out some duct cleaning guys, who told her there was mold in the system and that they needed to clean coils, ducting, 'sanitize' and mold remediate. Apparently there was some sort of duct cleaning a few years ago, as well.
I get uncomfortable around the topic of duct cleaning, especially when we're talking about flex duct and possible mold.
My initial thought is that a bulk sampling lab test should be performed. My knee jerk reaction is that if this is actually mold, we first need to determine what's causing the mold (maybe this is more common in that type of a climate) to remediate that, and possible duct work and air handler insulation replacement. I can only think (and hope!) there is duct liner inside that plenum that a duct cleaner will be unable to remediate without replacement.
