What Causes Mildew Around Air Conditioning Vents

Black dust around air vents.

What causes mildew around air conditioning vents. You may need more duct or attic insulation in order to solve the problem. Causes of moisture around hvac vents insufficient insulation. The black dust may be patchy and difficult to wipe off. If warm and humid air is coming from the attic this can cause condensation to form on the cold air ducts and leak.

Mildew can also often grow inside air conditioning vents. 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. Air conditioner vents can be breeding grounds for black mold. Mildew is a type of fungus that grows in damp and humid areas.

An unusual or musty odor is often the first sign of mold in air ducts or in air vents. Nobody wants moisture to turn into mold or mildew in their air ducts. Mold in air ducts most commonly occurs when there is moisture inside the ductwork. As cool air flows through the vents on hot days the moisture in the air can condense inside the air vent.

In many cases you ll smell it before you can see it. If you notice black dust around your air vents this could be a sign of black mold growing within. You can see the same principle at work when you drink an icy beverage and water beads up on the outside of the glass. Condensation forms in the coils and ducts as cool air circulates through the system creating a habitat for moisture loving mold.

Black mold has a distinctive unpleasant musty smell.