HVAC Health asthma or any other respiratory illness , mould is a risk factor that can ultimately put you in hospital .
Some moulds are also thought to be responsible for the production of mycotoxins , a leading contributor to serious and life-threatening illnesses such as pneumonia , particularly in children , the elderly and the immune-supressed .
MOULD IN THE AC OR HVAC SYSTEM Now everyone knows that mould can grow in a building AC and exposure to it can lead to sickness . Whether you have a single AC unit or a full ventilation system , hazardous mould can make itself a home and cause significant challenges to deal with . Many modern homes also have a full HVAC ( heating , ventilation , and air conditioning ) system , which makes it all the easier for mould to become a problem because once it infiltrates one system , it spreads through the ducts to everything else .
A stand-alone AC window unit can still grow mould and blow spores into the room the unit is located in . In this scenario , since the air conditioner isn ’ t connected to any ducts , the mould will not spread in the same way . You ’ ll only have one AC unit and one room to worry about . But if the home or building has central AC , the smallest bit of mould can end up spreading through to every connected space .
HOW DOES MOULD MAKE ONE SICK ? Mould visibly grows on a single surface , but it also spreads invisible , microscopic spores through the air , which can then be inhaled into the body . Once mould spores enter the lungs , they can lead to a myriad of issues , from small annoyances ( coughing and sneezing ) to major respiratory problems ( pneumonia , bronchitis , asthma attacks , and more ).
Many people will also have an allergic reaction upon contact with mould . It is an extremely common allergen , so unless you ’ re one of the lucky few who is not allergic , expect more responses . Symptoms of an allergic reaction to mould include hives , rashes , and trouble breathing caused by swelling of the throat . Usually , these allergic reactions are relatively minor , but in some cases , they can be fatal .
The worst forms of mould actually create mycotoxins , a toxic substance that leads to even further medical issues . The most prevalent mycotoxin producer is known as Stachybotrys chartarum , or more commonly , black mould . Exposure to black mould has been tied to tons of health problems , from depression to eye infections to lung bleeding . It ’ s not to be taken lightly .
Mould can grow virtually anywhere in a building and regardless of location , exposure can lead to these health problems . However , mould located in AC units spread spores out into the air throughout a building , which makes it especially dangerous and especially likely to cause the variety of sicknesses .
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HOW CAN YOU TELL IF THE AC HAS MOULD IN IT ? It ’ s not uncommon for building occupants to go a long time before finding out that their AC has been spreading harmful mould spores . An occupant could even be getting sick without even realise it .
Mould in an AC unit is usually discovered during the course of maintenance , such as when someone is replacing filters or cleaning dust and debris out . In these scenarios , the mould could be discovered by the building owner , or by a professional HVAC technician .
One particular way to keep an eye out for mould is through scent . If there ’ s a musty or stale smell whenever you turn on an AC unit , it may point toward mould being present somewhere . You may also want to physically look for mould if occupants experience any sicknesses or other symptoms that could be connected to mould . Look through the list of symptoms and problems discussed above for some examples of what to look out for .
If you suspect that the AC unit may contain mould , you should begin by checking whatever parts of the unit are visible or otherwise easy to access , including the evaporator coils and
Mould can cause a number of negative health effects from allergies to a worst-case scenario being death .
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I November 2022 39