Why Is There Mold in My Hillsdale Furnace Filter?

Your furnace enjoyed a nice long break throughout summer, but now that fall’s chill is settling upon Hillsdale, you reach for the thermostat to get that heat flowing. To your dismay, though, it smells like mold when the unit kicks on. You trace the stench to the filter and discover that it’s coated with nasty black mold.

If you’ve got mold on a furnace filter, you can’t just ignore it. Below, our furnace maintenance experts in HIllsdale, NJ, explain why your filter is moldy and what to do about it.

What Causes Mold on a Furnace Filter?

Furnace filters are normally dry, so you might wonder how they can end up packed with mold spores. This is possible because your HVAC system blows air, both warm and cool, throughout your entire house. If there’s mold in any part of the system, it’ll settle on your filter and trigger spore proliferation.

Other causes of mold on a furnace filter can include:

• Airflow obstruction: If there’s something blocking airflow through your ducts, clean air can’t circulate through your house.
• Moisture buildup: Moist, warm air ducts are the perfect place for mold spores to call home. Those spores will journey throughout the ducts, eventually landing and growing on your furnace filter.
• Filter saturation: If you haven’t changed your furnace filter in a long time (we’re talking six+ months), it’s probably packed with dust and dander. A dirty filter can’t do its job, and it makes an attractive home for mold too.

Why Is Mold in Your Hillsdale Furnace Bad?

Mold on a furnace filter is a big deal because it can make you seriously sick. You could develop cold-like symptoms (sneezing, stuffy nose, headache) or have an allergic reaction. And if you’ve got asthma, you’re in for a world of hurt.

Odor contamination is a big deal with mold, too. Mold stinks, and once that smell wafts through your house, it’s hard to get rid of it.

On top of all that, mold can cause mechanical problems in your furnace. You sure don’t want to deal with your furnace breaking down when winter descends upon Hillsdale.

Getting Rid of Mold on a Furnace Filter

If your furnace filter is moldy, you may think that replacing it with a clean one will solve the problem. Unfortunately, mold spores may have also settled in the rest of your HVAC system. If you don’t fix the issue at the source, your filter will soon be moldy all over again.

To keep mold from coming back:

• Switch out your furnace filter for one with a MERV rating of eight or better. Cheap, thin furnace filters aren’t equipped to capture mold spores. Filters with a high MERV rating capture spores and prevent them from being circulated through your air.
• Clean your furnace regularly, especially the condensate pan, which is a hotbed for mold growth. Bleach will get rid of any mold that’s growing there.
• Place dehumidifiers throughout your home and run them on humid days.
• Invest in an air purifier with a HEPA filter. A HEPA air purifier captures mold spores and bacteria, too.
• Schedule regular furnace maintenance and air duct cleaning. HVAC pros will inspect your system for mold and know how to stop it in its tracks.

Don’t Put Up With a Moldy Furnace Filter in Hillsdale Another Day

Mold on a furnace filter can spell big trouble for your HVAC system and your health, so it’s a problem you’ll want to get rid of ASAP. Our heating repair pros at Gladiator Services offer furnace filter replacement, duct cleaning, indoor air quality solutions, and more. Give us a call to schedule service for your furnace today.