HVAC and Air Duct Mold Remediation in West Los Angeles
HVAC mold remediation removes mold from your ducts, vents and air handler, and fixes the moisture that let it grow there. You need it when you see growth around vents, smell mustiness when the system runs, or know that water has reached the ductwork. We do this work in homes and commercial buildings across West Los Angeles, Culver City and the rest of the Westside.
Call (310) 678-4345 or schedule an inspection online.
We’re a licensed California contractor (CSLB #998184) and an IICRC-certified firm (#70018676). 4.8 stars, 180+ reviews across Google, Yelp, and BBB.
Quick links: What it involves Signs and causes Our process Cost FAQs
Musty air from your vents? We clean the system and fix the moisture behind it.
What HVAC and Air Duct Mold Remediation Involves
HVAC and air duct mold remediation is mold removal for the system that moves air through your building: the ductwork, vents, return grilles, air-handler cabinet and blower housing. It’s one part of our mold remediation work, with one added risk: the system can carry spores from one contaminated spot to every room it serves.
How It Differs From Duct Cleaning
Routine duct cleaning removes dust and debris, while mold remediation also fixes the moisture that caused the mold, replaces duct materials that can’t be cleaned and cleans the rooms the system served. The EPA says mold will grow back if the conditions that caused it aren’t corrected.
Which Duct Parts Get Cleaned and Which Get Replaced
Hard sheet-metal ducts can usually be cleaned. Porous materials, like duct insulation, lined ducts and duct board, are different: once they grow mold, the EPA’s advice is to remove and replace them, because they can’t be cleaned well.
Signs of Duct Mold and What Causes It
HVAC mold usually shows up first as a musty smell that gets stronger when the heat or air conditioning turns on. Other signs are dark spots on or around vents and return grilles, mold that keeps returning on the ceiling around a vent, and the same smell in several rooms at once.
The moisture usually comes from:
Condensation
Cold duct and air-handler surfaces collect it, especially in a warm attic or a damp crawl space.
Roof Leaks
Ducts and air handlers often sit in the attic, so roof leak repair is part of the fix.
Damp Crawl Spaces
Ducts under a house can pull damp air in through gaps and joints, and crawl space waterproofing keeps that space dry.
Mold in your ducts keeps coming back until the moisture is fixed. Book an inspection.
Our HVAC Mold Remediation Process
We shut the system down, find the mold and the moisture, clean or remove the affected parts, and fix the source before the system runs again. Timing depends on how much is affected, and your estimate includes a timeline.
1. Shut the System Down
The system stays off until the work is done, so it can’t spread spores while we work.
2. Inspect the System and the Building
We check the ducts, vents and air handler, then take moisture readings in the rooms, attic and crawl space around them. That tells us whether the mold is only in the system or in the building too.
3. Find the Moisture Source
We trace the moisture to its cause and plan the repair.
4. Contain the Work Area
We seal the vents in clean rooms and set up containment with HEPA air filtration, so spores we disturb don’t reach the rest of the building.
5. Clean or Remove Affected Parts
We HEPA-vacuum and clean hard duct and air-handler surfaces, and we remove porous duct materials with mold growth so they can be replaced.
6. Clean the Rooms and Fix the Source
We clean the rooms the system served, repair the moisture problem and confirm materials are dry. Only then does the system go back on.
How Much Does HVAC Mold Remediation Cost?
HVAC mold remediation is priced by scope in a written estimate after an inspection, which costs $375 to $575 (Basic) or $575 to $775 (Detailed). The price moves with how much of the system is affected, whether porous duct materials have to be replaced, and whether mold has spread into the rooms, the attic or the crawl space. These ranges apply when needed:
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Antimicrobial treatment | $775 to $2,500 |
| HEPA air scrubber or negative air machine | $375 per day each |
| Attic remediation, when mold has reached the attic around the ducts | $2,500 to $5,800 |
| Crawl space remediation, when mold has reached the crawl space | $2,850 to $6,800 |
Get your estimate: call (310) 678-4345 or request an inspection online. You can also email photos of the vents to info@leakmoldrepair.com with your name, property address and a brief description.
Get your HVAC mold estimate in writing, with your inspection fee credited toward the work.
Related Services
Why Choose Us for HVAC Mold Remediation?
We fix the reason the ducts got wet.
We Find the Water Behind the Mold
We trace duct mold to its moisture source and fix it, because clean ducts in a damp building grow mold again.
Led by a Water Intrusion Specialist
Our founder, Cameron Figgins, has more than 30 years of hands-on experience finding complex water intrusion problems in Southern California homes.
Licensed, IICRC-certified HVAC mold remediation in West LA and Culver City.
HVAC Mold FAQs
Can mold in air ducts make you sick?
Mold in air ducts can bother people who are sensitive to mold. The CDC says they may get a stuffy nose, wheezing, or red or itchy eyes or skin, and duct mold can reach every room the system serves. We don’t give medical advice, so if anyone has symptoms, talk to your doctor.
Should I turn off my HVAC if I think it has mold?
Yes, turn the HVAC system off if you think it has mold. The EPA advises against running a system you know or suspect is contaminated, because it can push mold through the whole building. Leave it off until we’ve inspected it.
Is the mold on my vents black mold?
You can’t tell whether vent mold is black mold by its color, and the species doesn’t change the job. The CDC says all molds should be treated the same for health risk and removal. Dark spots on a vent can also be dust or soot, so have it inspected first.
Still have questions? Our experts are here to help.
Musty Air From Your Vents? Call Now
Call (310) 678-4345 or book an inspection online. We’ll check the system and the building, and find the moisture behind it.