Top Signs of Biological Contamination in Your AC System

July 20, 2019

Any area in your James Island, South Carolina, home that has high levels of moisture is at risk for developing biological growth. Biological growth in your home can lead to a host of health concerns, including exacerbating asthma and allergy symptoms and causing other respiratory problems. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be difficult to determine that biological growth exists in your AC system. If you notice any of the signs below, it’s time to call in the professionals.

Musty Smell

A musty smell is a common sign of biological growth. The smell is old and unpleasant and will be more noticeably strong when you run your air conditioner. When the smell becomes more noticeable throughout the rest of the home, it is likely that it has spread to the ductwork.

Visual Presentation

Biological growth around your AC system will look the same as any other biological growth that you could see in a home, such as in the shower. It will look like black residue grouped in patches, and although it may be easy to wipe away, you should always call a professional to have it properly cleaned.

Respiratory Problems

Unfortunately, you may not know you have biological growth in your AC system until you begin to feel the ill effects. If you notice that you or family members have had increased respiratory illnesses or symptoms with no other reasonable cause, it may be due to biological growth that has gone undetected.

What to Do if You Suspect Biological Growth

If you suspect you have biological growth in your AC system you should:

Turn off your air conditioner.
Use rags to remove visible signs of moisture or biological growth.
Contact your HVAC company to have your system thoroughly cleaned and all biological growth removed.

If you notice any of the signs above, you may have biological growth in your system that could be adversely affecting your indoor air quality. Contact us at (843) 277-9928 today. One of our AC Heating and Air Conditioning specialists will help get your system clean and safe again.

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