The Superior comfort heating and cooling company is a heating and cooling business in MI that specializes in offering Grosse Ile Michigan heating and cooling service to their customers. Whether it be repairing or replacing anything from a furnace, water heater, central air conditioner, heat pump or package unit – Superior comfort has an expert team of technicians to handle all types of services for any project.
Superior comfort provides 24-hour emergency service with same day appointments when needed. Superior comfort’s number one goal is there for the customer when they call. Even if that means going out at midnight to fix a broken thermostat on a freezing cold night! Trained staff members have years of experience in the industry and only use high quality parts during service calls. Superior comfort heating and cooling is there for their customers any time during the day or night.
A very common complaint heard around this time of year is the complaint about “musty” smelling air coming from the furnace. Many people assume that theirfurnace has a problem and that it must be dirty and needs professional cleaning. While the smell may indicate dirt, more often than not, it is actually mold within your furnace duct system causing this odor.
The first question we want to address is what exactly causes this odour? The main source of humid air comes from humid outdoor air being pulled into the indoor evaporator coil on the furnace. This water-saturated air then passes over the cool evaporator coil surface causing it to release its moisture as condensation. The moist, warm air then enters the plenum area where blower fans are located which blows this now dryer but hot humidified air throughout your home via metal ducting – voila’ you have central heating comfort!So where does the mold come in? Well, unfortunately, climate is perfect for growing these fungi and we find them thriving in dark, damp and warm ducting systems. We always recommend professional duct cleaning to remove this source of humidity; however, proper furnace maintenance (which includes a thorough clean and inspection) performed on an annual basis will reduce your chances of developing a problem with mildew and fungus within your heating system.
In order to identify signs of mold growth within the heating system you need to have a high-efficiency air filter installed on your furnace unit. If you don’t have one already then it is time to invest in incorporating one into your heating system. Inexpensive pleated filters only trap large particles – theseare not efficient in trapping smaller particles, including mold spores. If your furnace filter is easy to access then you should be able to inspect it monthly for signs of growth or debris accumulation – if nothing is visible then you’re good to go!
If the filter seems to be absorbing moisture, appears discoloured or shows any other signs of potential humidity-related problems then this could indicate mildew growth within the system. Visible black spots are often a sign that mold has developed on the inside surface of metal ducts which are difficult to clean. The easiest way to identify these telltale black patches is by shining a flashlight along the inside wall of each metal duct run when the furnace fan is running. You may have to crawl into your attic orbasement to gain access in order to perform this test. If you notice that the black spots are only visible within certain areas then it is time to engage the services of a professional duct cleaning company – but, if the black patches are present along the entire length of your ducting system then it’s time for an emergency furnace service call.
Once you’ve identified any visible signs of mold growth within your heating system do not attempt to clean them yourself! You will need specialized equipment and protective clothing in order to deal safely with any fungi-related problems. The best idea is always to contact a reputable, insured heating service provider who can respond immediately and provide you with all necessary information on how they intend on dealing with this potentially serious issue.
