Month: September 2020

Ah the musk of mold, a smell so recognizable you just can’t miss it. Earthy, dank, damp, call it whatever you like, but the bottom line? It’s mildew. And it isn’t by any means pleasant news. You are probably wondering, “How do I have mold in my house?”, “What could have caused this?”, and here at JD’s we want to help. First, you have to understand what mold and mildew are, then find the root cause. 

What are mold and mildew? 

Mold is a naturally occurring type of Fungi that thrives on moisture and high humidity levels. These fungi can be present and naturally occurring indoors and outdoors. Mold has an unmistakable appearance, fuzzy and comes in a variety of colors such as green, black, brown, pink, or purple in color. Mold produces microscopic cells that spread throughout the air, water, or insects. These cells act like small seeds that when spread, blossom into mold and mildew spots. 

Mildew is also a type of fungi, that is essentially mold in the early stages of development. Mildew is often powdery or downy in texture. Powdery mildew will appear white, before transitioning to yellow, then to brown. And Downy mildew will appear in the form of yellow spots that turn brighter over time, and eventually turning brown. 

Why do mold and mildew appear? 

There’s no secret to it, we live in Texas where the humidity is high. And with high humidity comes high moisture levels. It’s often been found that a lead contributing factor outside of environmental elements that increase moisture in many homes is that of construction mishaps during the original build. 

Many experts can agree that mold doesn’t need much to sustain itself. Mold uses common household materials such as wood, sheetrock, and fabric for its primary food source. Even dust that accumulates in the right place can contribute to molds’ diet. As for a 5-star environment, all you need is moisture. Mold finds it’s way into your home through many different outlets, such as open doors, windows, vents, and even your homes HVAC system.  

Mold and the impact of our health – Catastrophic Possibilities

Mold and mildew can cause catastrophic impacts on our health and wellness if not properly managed. The most commonly reported health issues from the presence of mold are respiratory in nature, such as sneezing, coughing, wheezing, itching eyes, and throat irritation. But did you know that you can be allergic to mold? Those who find themselves allergic to mold and mildew will often experience more severe reactions such as, shortness of breath, and severe infections inside the lungs. This is commonly caused by toxic compounds produced by mold also known as mycotoxins, which can cause severe bleeding in the lungs as well as pneumonia. 

Mold no matter where it is located within the home can result in health problems minor, to severe. But when mold is in the air conditioning system, this can turn into a particularly problematic situation. These tiny microscopic mold spores become airborne when the air blows through the ducts and then are dispersed throughout the home. There they can be easily inhaled or develop into new mold colonies. High-risk groups such as infants, pregnant women, the elderly, and any persons who have an immune deficiency are most susceptible to severe mold-related illnesses.   

How Can You Avoid Mold In Your Home? 

Keep mold from becoming an issue in your home with these tips from JD’s AC! 

1. If a flood or leak takes place in the home, thoroughly and quickly clean and dry out your home. Do not wait more than 24-48 hours to take care of the issue. 
2. Keep your humidity levels low. The ideal level, recommended by professionals is that of 50% throughout the day. 
3. Check your home ventilation, and ensure that it is efficient enough. 
4. Remove carpet in rooms that come in contact with water frequently. Such as places like bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and basements.
5. You can add mold inhibitors to interior paint. 
6. Keep all irrigation systems a safe distance from your home. 
7. Install a dehumidifier in your home to continuously reduce moisture levels.  

Preventing Air Conditioning Mold 

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) states that keeping your air conditioning ducts free of dirt and other debris with seasonal tune-ups can reduce the likelihood of mold growth by making sure there is no organic matter in your home’s HVAC ducts on which mold feeds. Along with this, as stated above, a main conductor for mold is of course moisture. So if you find that water is present inside the air ducts of your HVAC system, you need to call a professional to immediately asses the situation. 

We’re Here For You

Call a certified HVAC technician today if you believe you have concerns about moisture levels in your home.

JD’s A/C

(903) 336-6041

https://iwantairnow.com/

It might seem illogical to think that in Texas our AC units can freeze, however contrary to popular belief, they can. One of the first signs that your unit may be frozen over is that it begins to blow hot air through the vents. 

A few things that may help you determine if your AC unit is frozen or not working properly: 

• Check the air filter to see if it is dirty
• Check the coils for dirt
• Look inside the unit for ice on the tubing
• If there is ice, shut off the unit until it dries
• See if the system runs normally
• If it does not, contact a JD’s AC contractor

Know that even if you do not detect any visible ice, your HVAC unit may still be frozen. 

What are the common reasons that cause my AC unit to freeze up?

Blocked Airflow – Insufficient or a lack of airflow through the system is the number one leading cause of freezing HVAC units. When air is unable to move through the system, it cannot keep from condensation from building up inside on the evaporator coil. Blockages such as these that keep air from freely moving over the coil, causes it to become frigid and ice over. In most cases, the blocked airflow is caused by something as simple as a dirty air filter, or closed registers. To make sure that this isn’t an issue in the future, changing your air filters regularly (every month is average). As well as keeping your supply registers open while your AC unit is running. 

Low Refrigerant – Low refrigerant is usually a strong indicator of a leak in your system. This calls for a repair or replacement of your system – depending on the age of your system of course. When your air conditioning system is low on refrigerant it causes a large pressure drop in your system, which in turn causes the temperature to drop with it. When this happens, the evaporator coil becomes cold, and then freezes over. 

Faulty Thermostats – Faulty thermostats can cause the temperature to be misread and misadjusted this causing your AC unit to freeze as it tries to keep up with the adjustments. With not only causing your AC unit to freeze, malfunctioning thermostats also cause a large increase in your electrical bill. 

Drainage Issues – If you live in a humid climate such as Texas is, more times than not, a large amount of water vapor is turned into condensation. When your air conditioning unit is functioning properly, your air conditioning unit is to condense water vapor droplets into liquid as it travels through the units condensate lines and out of your drainage pipes. If the water becomes stagnant and get’s stuck in one place, it will freeze. 

What Should You Do When Your A/C Unit Freezes?

The first thing you should do after noticing your air conditioner has frozen is to turn it off and allow your HVAC unit to defrost completely. Once your AC unit has defrosted, clean or replace dirty air filters and remove any visible dirt or obstructions from your unit. In many cases, this may be all that’s required to fix the problem. However, some of the causes of a frozen air conditioner, such low refrigerant and faulty thermostats, will require assistance from a certified JD’s A/C HVAC specialist.

If your A/C unit continues freezing and you’d like to schedule a visit, call JD’s A/C today at (903)336-6041! One of our technicians would be happy to assist you and resolve any issue that you may have.