What Causes Mildew Around Air Conditioning Vents

Mold in air ducts most commonly occurs when there is moisture inside the ductwork.

What causes mildew around air conditioning vents.

Mildew is a type of fungus that grows in damp and humid areas. The black dust may be patchy and difficult to wipe off. Air conditioner vents can be breeding grounds for black mold. If you notice a musty or moldy smell that goes away when you are not using your air conditioning or heating if they share ducts that can narrow the cause down to mold in your hvac system.

Black mold has a distinctive unpleasant musty smell. Causes of moisture around hvac vents insufficient insulation. Common causes of black mold in air vents. You may need more duct or attic insulation in order to solve the problem.

If warm and humid air is coming from the attic this can cause condensation to form on the cold air ducts and leak. As cool air flows through the vents on hot days the moisture in the air can condense inside the air vent. Mildew can also often grow inside air conditioning vents. If there is black mold growing in your air vents you may notice a musty aroma when you run.

In many cases you ll smell it before you can see it. An unusual or musty odor is often the first sign of mold in air ducts or in air vents. If you live in a wet climate such as a southern state or tropical country it is likely that you ve had to clean mildew off your bathroom walls basement floorboards or even from behind your wallpaper. You can see the same principle at work when you drink an icy beverage and water beads up on the outside of the glass.

If you notice black dust around your air vents this could be a sign of black mold growing within.