AC & Air Duct Mold Removal in Crosby, TX

How do I know whether the mold is in my AC or just on the vents?

Spots on a supply grille are often the visible end of a bigger story. If the grille is the only place you see growth and the smell is weak, the cause may be cold air meeting humid room air at that one opening. If the odor is strongest at the return, if the pan under the air handler holds water, or if several rooms show spotting, the coil, blower or duct runs are more likely involved. A mold assessment consultant opens the system and looks rather than guessing from the vents. EPA notes that in most cases sampling is unnecessary when mold is visible; the inspection itself answers most questions.

Why does my Crosby house have this problem when my neighbor's doesn't?

Crosby is a small unincorporated community in east Harris County, about 25 miles from downtown Houston, that began as an 1820s settlement and grew around the railroad. Homes here range widely in age and setup, and that matters more than the zip code. A clogged condensate line, crushed attic insulation around a duct, an oversized unit that cools fast but leaves the air damp, or a return that sits low enough to catch water can each make one house grow mold while the one next door does not. Heavy rain also plays a part: in an October 2015 storm the Harris County Flood Control District measured about 13 inches here, and shops in a Crosby shopping center took more than four inches of water.

Can one company handle the whole thing?

Not in Texas. Anyone hired to assess or remove mold needs a TDLR license, and the company that assesses may not also do the remediation on the same project. The consultant gives you a protocol at least one calendar day before work starts, the remediator follows it and its own work plan, and a post-remediation assessment checks clearance. You can check both companies on TDLR's license search. Repairs to the equipment itself are often done by an HVAC contractor.

A local note

If the job leaves you rebuilding a ceiling or other construction, unincorporated Crosby falls under the Harris County Office of the County Engineer, which requires a permit for development. Work in the 100-year floodplain needs drawings sealed by a Texas architect or engineer. Ask before you start, not after.