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Indoor Air Quality - Do It Yourself
Warning! This Do It Yourself section is for serious users. The information contained within our manual is of a highly technical nature. If you find that you are confused by any of the information we present you may want to consider hiring the help of an HVAC technician. Information contained in this work has been obtained by Mainstream Engineering Corporation from sources believed to be reliable. However, neither Mainstream Engineering Corporation nor its author guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein, and neither Mainstream Engineering Corporation nor its author shall be responsible for any errors, omissions, or damages arising out of the use of this information. This work is published with the understanding that Mainstream Engineering Corporation and its author are supplying information but are not attempting to render engineering or other professional or technical services. If such services are required, the assistance of an appropriate professional should be sought.
The three steps to dealing with mold within your home are Detect, Treat, and Prevent. Our short Do it Yourself guide covers all three of these steps in order. Please read our guide thoroughly before attempting to treat any mold causing conditions yourself. For most cases of mold infestation, our only instructions are to hire a certified HVAC technician to treat the situation.
Investigating hidden mold problems may be difficult and require caution when the investigation involves disturbing potential sites of mold growth (be sure to use personal protection equipment). For example, the cleaning of moldy air ducts can lead to a massive release of spores from mold growing in the ducts, and for this and other reasons, moldy porous air ducts should always be replaced and not cleaned.
When addressing mold problems, remember to address the source of the moisture problem, or the mold problem will simply reappear. Remember to check for high humidity and condensation problems as well as actual water leaks, maintenance issues, and HVAC system problems.
Note: Tables 2 and 3 contain general guidelines. Their purpose is to provide basic information for technicians to assess the extent of the damage and then to determine whether the additional mold remediation specialists need to be contracted for the clean-up.
The three steps to dealing with mold within your home are Detect, Treat, and Prevent. Our short Do it Yourself guide covers all three of these steps in order. Please read our guide thoroughly before attempting to treat any mold causing conditions yourself. For most cases of mold infestation, our only instructions are to hire a certified HVAC technician to treat the situation.
Visual Mold Detection
There may be a visual appearance of black mold in a visible water damage area, but be aware that there may be hidden water damage and mold (i.e., behind dry wall, under organic thread carpets). One should suspect hidden mold if a building smells moldy, even if the source cannot be seen, or if there has been water damage and residents are reporting health problems. Humidifiers and condensate drain pains provide both a growth medium and a distribution system for mold and mildew and should always be inspected, cleaned with QwikTreat® MoldStop™ Hard Surface Cleaner. QwikTreat® Pan Tablets should be used to prevent scum build-up in the condensate pan or clogging of the condensate drain line (follow all label directions). Consider adding a QwikTreat® Dispenser.Hidden Mold
In some cases, indoor mold growth may not be obvious. It is possible that mold may be growing on hidden surfaces, such as the inside of duct work that is wet, the back side of dry wall, wallpaper, or paneling, the top of ceiling tiles, the underside of carpets and pads, etc. Possible locations of hidden mold can include pipe chases and utility tunnels (with leaking or condensing pipes), walls behind furniture (where condensation forms), condensate drain pans inside air handling units, porous thermal or acoustic liners inside ductwork, or roof materials above ceiling tiles (due to roof leaks or insufficient insulation). Some building materials, such as dry wall with vinyl wallpaper over it or wood paneling, may act as vapor barriers, trapping moisture underneath their surfaces and thereby providing a moist environment where mold can grow. It is important that building materials be able to dry. Moisture should not be trapped between two vapor barriers or mold may result.Investigating hidden mold problems may be difficult and require caution when the investigation involves disturbing potential sites of mold growth (be sure to use personal protection equipment). For example, the cleaning of moldy air ducts can lead to a massive release of spores from mold growing in the ducts, and for this and other reasons, moldy porous air ducts should always be replaced and not cleaned.
When addressing mold problems, remember to address the source of the moisture problem, or the mold problem will simply reappear. Remember to check for high humidity and condensation problems as well as actual water leaks, maintenance issues, and HVAC system problems.
Treatment of Mold
The actual treatment of mold should not be performed by anyone but a licensed technician. Please be sure that the technician treating your home is certified, if not by Mainstream, then by someone reputable. To effectively treat large scale mold contamination requires professional training and equipment. Our homeowner do it yourself guide is only for smaller, localized mold infestations and water damage.Strategies for Responding to Water Damage
Table 2 presents strategies for responding to water damage within 24-48 hours. These guidelines are designed to help avoid the need for remediation of mold growth by taking quick action before growth starts. If mold growth is found on the materials listed in Table 2, refer to Table 3 for guidance on remediation. Depending on the size of the area involved and resources available, professional assistance may be needed to dry an area quickly and thoroughly.Note: Tables 2 and 3 contain general guidelines. Their purpose is to provide basic information for technicians to assess the extent of the damage and then to determine whether the additional mold remediation specialists need to be contracted for the clean-up.
Table 2: Water Damage Cleanup and Mold Prevention
Guidelines for Response to Clean Water Damage within 24-48 Hours to Prevent Mold Growth(1) |
|
Water-Damaged Material |
Actions |
| Wet books and papers | For non-valuable items, discard books and papers. Photocopy valuable/important items, discard originals. Freeze (in frost-free freezer or meat locker) or freeze-dry. |
| Wet carpet and under carpet backing - Replace under carpet and dry Carpet within 24-48 hours (2) | Remove water with water extraction vacuum. Reduce ambient humidity levels with dehumidifier. Accelerate drying process with fans. |
| Wet ceiling tiles(3) | Discard and replace. Treat Adjacent ceiling tiles with QwikTreat® MoldStop™ Duct Sealant. |
| Wet fiberboard(3) | Cut out wet sections, replace, treat new and adjacent surfaces with QwikTreat® MoldStop™ Duct Sealant. |
| Metal ducts | Clean with QwikTreat® MoldStop™ Hard Surface Cleaner and allow to dry. |
| Wet cellulose insulation(3) | Discard and replace. Treat new and adjacent insulation with QwikTreat® MoldStop™ Duct Sealant. |
| Concrete or cinderblock surfaces | Remove water with water extraction vacuum. Accelerate drying process with dehumidifiers, fans, and/or heaters. |
| Wet fiberglass insulation | Discard and replace. Treat new and adjacent insulation with QwikTreat® MoldStop™ Duct Sealant. |
| Non-porous Hard surfaces | Clean with QwikTreat® MoldStop™ Hard Surface Cleaner and allow to dry; scrub if necessary. |
| Upholstered furniture | Remove water with water extraction vacuum. Accelerate drying process with dehumidifiers, fans, and/or heaters. |
| Wallboard (drywall and gypsum board) | May be dried in place if there is no obvious swelling and the seams are intact. If not, remove, discard, and replace. Ventilate the wall cavity, if possible. |
| Window drapes | Follow laundering or cleaning instructions recommended by the manufacturer. |
| Wood surfaces | Remove moisture immediately and use dehumidifiers, gentle heat, and fans for drying. (Use caution when applying heat to hardwood floors.) Treated or finished wood surfaces may be cleaned with mild detergent and clean water and allowed to dry. Wet paneling should be pried away from wall for drying. |
| (1) If mold growth has occurred or materials have been wet for more than 48 hours, consult Table 2 guidelines. Even if materials are dried within 48 hours, mold growth may have occurred. These guidelines are for damage caused by clean water. If the water source is contaminated with sewage, or chemical or biological pollutants, then Personal Protective Equipment and containment are required by OSHA. An experienced professional Hazardous Material Handling Expert should be consulted. Do not use fans before determining that the water is clean or sanitary. |
| (2) The subfloor under the carpet or other flooring material must also be cleaned and dried. See the appropriate section of Table 1 for recommended actions depending on the composition of the subfloor. |
| (3) QwikTreat® MoldStop™ Hard Surface Cleaner is only to be used on Hard, Non-Porous surfaces. If metal ducts have a fiberglass insulation inner liner, then wet sections of the liner need to be replaced and the new and adjacent liner treated with QwikTreat® MoldStop™ Duct Sealant, not QwikTreat® MoldStop™ Hard Surface Cleaner. |
Strategies to Prevent Mold Growth in HVAC Systems
| • | Correct any water leaks or standing water. |
| • | Remove standing water under cooling coils of air handling units by making sure that drain pans slope toward the drain. Always use a QwikTreat Time-Release Tablet in the drain pan. |
| • | If humidifiers are used, they must be properly maintained. Always use a QwikTreat® Pan Tablet to prevent scum deposits which can clog a condensate drain line. Consider installing a QwikTreat Dispenser so the equipment owner can add QwikTreat Tablets as needed. |
| • | Air handling units should be installed for easy, direct access to the heat exchange components and drain pans, thereby allowing proper cleaning and maintenance. |
| • | Fiberglass insulation, duct board, or any other porous material that is wet or visibly moldy (or if an unacceptable odor is present) should be removed, replaced, and then sealed. (see QwikTreat Porous Duct Sealant with Biocide). |
| • | Steam cleaning and other methods involving moisture should not be used on any kind of ductwork. |
