AC & Air Duct Mold Removal in Deer Park, TX

Why is mold showing up on my vents every summer?

Deer Park is a city about 21 miles from downtown Houston, bounded on the north by the Houston Ship Channel, the dredged-out Buffalo Bayou. Close to that much water, the outdoor air stays heavy most of the year, and the AC rarely gets a break. Every hour it runs, the coil pulls water out of the air. If the supply registers are colder than the dew point of the room, they collect droplets and the paint around them starts to spot. If the duct boots in the attic are poorly sealed or the insulation has slipped, the ceiling drywall can stay damp too. Seasonal spotting that returns after cleaning is a strong hint that the moisture source has not been touched.

What does the inspection look at?

A mold assessment consultant should check the coil, blower, drain pan and condensate line, the supply and return plenums, a sample of duct runs, and the registers. Expect questions about indoor humidity, how long the system runs, and whether the unit seems oversized. In Texas the consultant then writes a protocol listing the rooms and components to clean or remove, the methods and the clearance criteria, and gives it to you at least one calendar day before work starts. EPA notes that sampling is usually unnecessary when mold is visible, so ask what any sample would change before paying for one.

Who does what?

• Mold assessor: inspects, writes the protocol, and later performs the post-remediation assessment.
• Remediation company: a separate company that cleans or replaces registers, duct and other contaminated parts under containment.
• HVAC contractor: repairs the drain, insulation or equipment so the moisture stops.

Texas law bars the assessor and the remediator from being the same company on one project. Check each on TDLR's license search.

A local note

If drywall in a ceiling gets replaced, ask the City of Deer Park Building Department at 710 E. San Augustine whether the repair needs a permit. Renters dealing with a leaking or dripping system the landlord hasn't fixed can report code violations through the city's online Report a Concern form; code enforcement is listed with Public Works.