Is Your Cincinnati Home Making You Sick?

Damp, warm spaces are the perfect environment for mold growth – these conditions often exist inside residential and commercial HVAC systems, as well as buildings themselves. When mold grows, it can circulate throughout the interior, exposing everyone indoors to harmful spores which can make them ill.

HVAC Issues Causing Mold Growth

A number of HVAC and indoor air quality issues can contribute to mold growth indoors. Moisture is the number one problem – if your home or business has high relative humidity levels (over 50 percent), or you have poor ventilation in areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and washrooms, mold-growing conditions can develop. Proper ventilation and whole-home dehumidification are two solutions that help home and business owners fight mold growth and moisture issues.

Mold spores can circulate through the HVAC system in a home or business with no treatment measures. When low-quality air filters are used, they may not be powerful enough to trap microscopic mold spores. If you don’t change your filters regularly, the filter will become too contaminated to trap mold circulating.

Ultraviolet air purification systems, paired with a high-efficiency air filter, work to keep mold out of your air supply. As mold circulates through your HVAC system, it will come in contact with the UV lights – UV energy neutralizes mold spores so they cannot harm you, nor can they reproduce.

Signs of Mold Illness

Mold can affect inhabitants long before it’s ever seen, as it often grows in hidden areas. Physical symptoms may develop before you ever see mold on surfaces in your home. Watch for these symptoms, which may indicate a mold problem in your home or business:

• Brain fog and memory issues
• Fatigue
• Muscle cramps
• Headache
• Light sensitivity and blurred vision
• Sinus issues
• Nerve pain that is ongoing
• Body temperature regulation issues, including night sweats
• Diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain
• Metallic taste in mouth
• Excessive thirst and frequent urination

Many of these symptoms are commonly brushed off as other issues, like a cold or flu virus. If a member of your household or employee is experiencing these issues, it’s time to check for mold growth.

Nelson Comfort helps Cincinnati home and business owners combat mold to keep their families and workforce healthy. If you suspect a mold problem in your home, we can get to the bottom of moisture and air quality issues causing it to thrive – call us today.

About The Author

Dan Detmer

Dan Detmer is the owner of Nelson Comfort. Dan was born into the heating and cooling industry, coming from a family of well respected HVAC contractors in Dayton, Ohio. After working in the family business, Dan decided to work for a local HVAC wholesale business helping local contractors grow their business. When he felt his heart moving him back into the residential and light commercial business, Dan joined the Mortimer Heating & Cooling team in Cincinnati, where he had called home and become part of the community for several years. After a short period of time Dan purchased the company and created what is today, Nelson Comfort. Today he operates a company based on integrity, honesty, and stellar customer service. If you have any questions feel free to tweet (at sign) NelsonComfort and we will get right back with you!