OT----Any HVAC guys here?-----OT

JefCB01

Taking a break from my egg related questions.  If anyone here is an HVAC professional I have a question.

I live in Houston and had an AC company come out last week to do our preseason AC tune-up.  Before the guy started in the attic he pointed at some dust/dirt build up on the attic ductwork and said that it was mildew/growth bacteria coming from inside the ductwork and now is outside (only on the top that I could tell) and that we should clean our ducts and sanitize them to the tune $750 per unit.

Seems like I'm getting played by am I?  Our house doesn't smell moldy or musty...none of the ducts in any room have visible dust or growths when I stand up to them and shine a flashlight.  Our filters are changed regularly and stay pretty clean.

Am I missing something? For your trouble, I present my recent paella done on my large BGE.

pgprescott

@NPHuskerFL

DoubleEgger

Sounds like bs to me. 

six_egg

@JefCB01 what do your A coils look like? They are the coils you use the filter for. Might have to remove a cover to see them. That really should have been checked in a pre season. A unit can freeze up and appear to have a leak if they are dirty and not letting air threw. If they look good. No mold on them your good I would say. I am not a HVAC professional just a hack who tries to save a buck.

abtaylor260

Trying to empty your pockets it sounds like. Dont know how old your house is but dust in an attic is going to happen and with a warm attic and cold air you will condensate.

I am sure there is an expert that will answer you soon, but if not I will go ask my two guys in my jobsite and PM you. 

lkapigian

39 Years in the trade here---Do you have pictures you can share? Did they take pictures of the coil? Duct cleaning does have its time and place- typically Mold is in the Pans and Coils especially with you Green Grass Guys, we see it a lot in the return the return ducting and for us it is easier to just replace

A lot of Bargain "Spring Service Specials" are just a fishing expedition

If it is not musty, you may be ok, but pictures and a second opinion would be in order --My Two Cents

JefCB01

lkapigian said:

39 Years in the trade here---Do you have pictures you can share? Did they take pictures of the coil? Duct cleaning does have its time and place- typically Mold is in the Pans and Coils especially with you Green Grass Guys, we see it a lot in the return the return ducting and for us it is easier to just replace

A lot of Bargain "Spring Service Specials" are just a fishing expedition

If it is not musty, you may be ok, but pictures and a second opinion would be in order --My Two Cents

Thanks guys!  lkapigian - I will snap some photos of the duct work later and post them.  Appreciate your feedback.

northGAcock

JefCB01 said:

Taking a break from my egg related questions.  If anyone here is an HVAC professional I have a question.

I live in Houston and had an AC company come out last week to do our preseason AC tune-up.  Before the guy started in the attic he pointed at some dust/dirt build up on the attic ductwork and said that it was mildew/growth bacteria coming from inside the ductwork and now is outside (only on the top that I could tell) and that we should clean our ducts and sanitize them to the tune $750 per unit.

Seems like I'm getting played by am I?  Our house doesn't smell moldy or musty...none of the ducts in any room have visible dust or growths when I stand up to them and shine a flashlight.  Our filters are changed regularly and stay pretty clean.

Am I missing something? For your trouble, I present my recent paella done on my large BGE.

No help on the AV....but me likey the paella.

milesvdustin

Sounds like a scam. A clean A coil and clean blower wheel is important for efficiency. My thoughts are if its stuck in the duct it's likely stuck. Get some mastic and foil tape and seal all your duct joints up yourself. If the duct isn't insulated, wrap it with reflectix. 

jtcBoynton

We are talking about the outside top of the ductwork, correct?  Not the inside of the ducts or the coil.  

DoubleEgger

jtcBoynton said:

We are talking about the outside top of the ductwork, correct?  Not the inside of the ducts or the coil.  

The guy said the mold had migrated from the inside of the duct to the outside.

dharley

I've been a licensed mechanical contractor since 2004. That was a BS sales pitch. Save your money for SRF and RW. Everyone else is correct about the A-coil and blower wheel. Be sure those are clean and change your filter as needed.

MaskedMarvel

Not a contractor, but did just have to have our entire hvac replaced. 

Mold is from condensation. Condensation is from moist warm air being trapped next to cold air. 

If its on the outside side of the ductwork and in the attic, I’d think you need to have better ventilation in your attic. Open that space up, somehow. You may see mildew or mold in the other surfaces in the attic, as well. 

In other words, if you have mold, you have a vapor barrier issue. 

What’s more, Mold certainly doesn't only  grow on the tops of things. Dust settling does that. 


I’d think it was time to have a different hvac service company come. My best guess, of course..

nolaegghead

the ducting is a system closed to the attic.  total bullsh*t explanation of why you need ducts cleaned 

alaskanassasin

 This is our pre season ac tuneup ritual

lkapigian

alaskanassasin said:

 This is our pre season ac tuneup ritual

Ha Ha

thetrim

@NPHuskerFL as long as he hasn't peace'd out recently.

Legume

thetrim said:

@NPHuskerFL as long as he hasn't peace'd out recently.

And if he has, you just need to wait a few days longer.

caliking

Sounds like your bullshitometer went off, as it should have. 

If you're looking for a second opinion, PM me and I’ll send you the info for a company that has provided me with great, honest service over the years. 

XC242

Not a HVAC guy but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night... How can I help??

cookingdude555

Go mini split!  No more ducts.  I am sure people will pile on for my suggestion, but I really like ours.  I even put it in myself  .  A second one goes in the master bedroom next month.

Best thing I ever did for my central system was get in there into where the A coil was and clean it really good, make sure the fins were combed straight.  I had a tech tell me I needed a new system.  5 years ago.  My SEER 10 R22 system is still running great.  I don't trust them.  But eventually it will spring a leak and I either will need to add R407c, or finally give into a newer system.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

what is this "season" you guys speak of? I go through that with my heater but when my ac is having issues, I know it quickly- no matter what month it is. very little down time for our units down here.

JefCB01

Pictures. Looks like just dust and dirt to me right?

lkapigian

No active mold growth ....if you have a concern go to the box store and get a test kit....IMO, they were just fishing, and by chance was it an advertised " Special" ..

Exterior of insulation does not get mold ( normally )

JefCB01

lkapigian said:

No active mold growth ....if you have a concern go to the box store and get a test kit....IMO, they were just fishing, and by chance was it an advertised " Special" ..

Exterior of insulation does not get mold ( normally )

Appreciate it!  Wasn’t presented as a special. Disappointing as this company was highly recommended to me. Will find someone new.  

nolaegghead

cookingdude555 said:

Go mini split!  No more ducts.  I am sure people will pile on for my suggestion, but I really like ours.  I even put it in myself  .  A second one goes in the master bedroom next month.

Best thing I ever did for my central system was get in there into where the A coil was and clean it really good, make sure the fins were combed straight.  I had a tech tell me I needed a new system.  5 years ago.  My SEER 10 R22 system is still running great.  I don't trust them.  But eventually it will spring a leak and I either will need to add R407c, or finally give into a newer system.

I installed one in my shop and one in the master bedroom.  Might get rid of the central one day, but it has another decade of life in it and the gas furnace is 97% efficient or something.   Installed everything myself.

nolaegghead

JefCB01 said:

Pictures. Looks like just dust and dirt to me right?

Even if you did have mold growing in your attic, it points to an attic ventilation/moisture issue that probably has nothing to do with the HVAC (unless the moisture was from a condensate leak).

Looks like you have a normal, dusty attic.

cookingdude555

nolaegghead said:

cookingdude555 said:

Go mini split!  No more ducts.  I am sure people will pile on for my suggestion, but I really like ours.  I even put it in myself  .  A second one goes in the master bedroom next month.

Best thing I ever did for my central system was get in there into where the A coil was and clean it really good, make sure the fins were combed straight.  I had a tech tell me I needed a new system.  5 years ago.  My SEER 10 R22 system is still running great.  I don't trust them.  But eventually it will spring a leak and I either will need to add R407c, or finally give into a newer system.

I installed one in my shop and one in the master bedroom.  Might get rid of the central one day, but it has another decade of life in it and the gas furnace is 97% efficient or something.   Installed everything myself.

I think I saw the shop one in one of your pics once.  I really like them.  I went looking after seeing this thread and I am picking up three more units next week.  That should do it for me.  I wont need the central anymore, but I wont rip it out.  The central is tough on the shoulder seasons here in Utah (April, late September/early October).  Its warm enough to use AC, but not hot enough for it to run at longer intervals.  You get a constant feeling of a freezing house, followed by a long warm up period.  Its sized for the hottest day of the year, and it does well in that regard, but the inverter in these ductless systems are excellent at scaling back when needed.  My kitchen unit will run down around 3000 btu so its always keeping the room at the set temp without fluctuations.  Ductless systems are to air conditioning what a flameboss is to a BGE.

ckali7

lkapigian said:

39 Years in the trade here---Do you have pictures you can share? Did they take pictures of the coil? Duct cleaning does have its time and place- typically Mold is in the Pans and Coils especially with you Green Grass Guys, we see it a lot in the return the return ducting and for us it is easier to just replace

A lot of Bargain "Spring Service Specials" are just a fishing expedition

If it is not musty, you may be ok, but pictures and a second opinion would be in order --My Two Cents

What are your thoughts on the April Air filter system and the Air Scrubber Plus system? 

milesvdustin

I have an air scrubber plus with a regular media filter, the air bear. I thought the scrubber was a joke until I tried it. Gets the dust out like crazy and kills odor. I've had mine a year now, I'll always have one. If you or anyone In the house is sensitive to ozone, ask for the non ozone cell. Still kicks ass. 

I have a central heat pump system with the inverter compressor, a trane xv20. It's awesome. (I used to do sales for HVAC so I got good prices on my stuff. Expect to pay around a grand for an air scrubber. Cost on them is like 400 bucks or less.)

NPHuskerFL

This individual could be legit telling the truth. But, sadly there are a lot of Sales Techs hungry for spiffs.  Like Larry said, I'd like to see pics of the return plenum, evaporator coil and condensate drain pan.