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HVAC "Growth"

Posted on 5/28/26 at 7:11 pm
Posted by Roy Curado
Member since Jul 2021
1827 posts
Posted on 5/28/26 at 7:11 pm
HVAC tech came out to do my yearly clean and told me I had mildew inside my system. He told me so many people have this problem and 7/10 just chose to ignore it. He gave me a price of $18k for a total replacement.

I hate the idea of breathing in this "growth." But I have bad allergies and have not noticed them being bad. I feel like have mildew or mold in my HVAC system would cause some symptoms like smells, allergies, etc... Why do so many people ignore this?
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
73623 posts
Posted on 5/28/26 at 7:14 pm to
quote:

Why do so many people ignore this?


Because the only effective way to get rid of it is to replace stuff, and it usually never bothers anybody.

Posted by whiskey over ice
Member since Sep 2020
3819 posts
Posted on 5/28/26 at 8:09 pm to
$18k lmao. id rather take the entire system apart and hand scrub it with lysol wipes before I pay that much
Posted by Skippy1013
Lafayette, La
Member since Oct 2017
857 posts
Posted on 5/28/26 at 8:20 pm to
They can spray and clean for this and install UV lights, cost would be about $1000
Posted by mdomingue
Lafayette, LA
Member since Nov 2010
50844 posts
Posted on 5/28/26 at 9:26 pm to
Sounds like you need a new AC guy.
Posted by Spankum
The Sip
Member since Jan 2007
64130 posts
Posted on 5/29/26 at 12:25 am to
I have seen it in my air handler. Called someone and he told me the same thing. He said something like:

“well, I can get rid of it for you. But you are gonna spend a hell of a lot of money any you won’t be able to tell any difference after we are done”
Posted by Pezzo
Member since Aug 2020
3071 posts
Posted on 5/29/26 at 7:47 am to
i've got the growth in my air handler too. i just bought a soft thin brush and brushed it off gently. i check it every now and then and clean what i can. really not that concerned about it. its sucking all the moisture out your house so with moisture there is going to be growth. just the way it is.
Posted by LSUfan20005
Member since Sep 2012
9320 posts
Posted on 5/29/26 at 7:54 am to
I had a fair amount of growth on the coil, cleaned it off gently and had them install a UV light, never came back. Spent about $1400
Posted by TDsngumbo
Member since Oct 2011
52894 posts
Posted on 5/29/26 at 8:45 am to
quote:

Why do so many people ignore this?

quote:

He gave me a price of $18k for a total replacement
Posted by Tifway419
Member since Sep 2022
2641 posts
Posted on 5/29/26 at 10:30 am to
I don’t know if this is the right answer, but look into UV lights. Might cost 1-2 grand, so do your research on if that would fix it.

Doing nothing could be fine, could also cause health / respiratory issues over time.
Posted by td1
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2015
3248 posts
Posted on 5/29/26 at 12:29 pm to
You live in the South?

You will have HVAC "Growth". Clean it all you want, but it will come back. The UV lights might keep the area around the UV light growth free, but farther down the system the growth will eventually come back.
Posted by CrawDude
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2019
6086 posts
Posted on 5/29/26 at 12:57 pm to
quote:

But I have bad allergies and have not noticed them being bad. I feel like have mildew or mold in my HVAC system would cause some symptoms like smells, allergies, etc...

Sounds like you answered your own question - it’s not an issue.

You weren’t specific, where was the mildew located - in and on/around the evaporator coil? which would be pretty normal (constantly damp environment during AC cooling period); throughout the entire unit, including ductwork (not normal and would/should require further investigated)?

There are other options for improving indoor air quality (IAQ) if needed, some mentioned, that don’t require replacing a HVAC.

So if the tech came out to do your yearly clean, why didn’t he clean the mildew? Sounds like you got a Sales HVAC tech - they make big commissions from their employer if they can sell you a new system. As others said, get a new HVAC tech or a new HVAC company that doesn’t use sales techs. .

Posted by TBoy
Kalamazoo
Member since Dec 2007
29739 posts
Posted on 5/29/26 at 2:33 pm to
I have been told that the issue is insulation around the unit in the attic and around the duct pipes. Maybe kill what is there and wrap the ducts with another layer of insulation.

Disclaimer: I am not an HVAC tech.
This post was edited on 5/29/26 at 2:34 pm
Posted by honeybadger07
The Woodlands
Member since Jul 2015
4656 posts
Posted on 6/1/26 at 10:44 am to
Can put a UV light in the unit and will get rid of the mold. We did it and in less than a year it was gone.
This post was edited on 6/1/26 at 10:46 am
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
73623 posts
Posted on 6/2/26 at 8:57 pm to
Theres really no defeating it in the south. Its dark and damp in there, shits gonna grow.
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
24776 posts
Posted on 6/4/26 at 10:00 am to
quote:

Theres really no defeating it in the south. Its dark and damp in there, shits gonna grow.


Exactly, and at times the right temp range.

Always get a second or preferably 4 quotes of more for a HVAC system replcement.

Anyone that suggests a $18k replacement instead of a cleaning is likely not good, as suggested.
Posted by TigerTatorTots
The Safeshore
Member since Jul 2009
82381 posts
Posted on 6/4/26 at 9:57 pm to
I have 1 vent in my house that gets mildew blotches showing up every 3ish months right in the vicinity of the vent. I hit it with some clorox bleach and it its good for a while. I assume we are breathing that shite in to an extent but we haven't noticed any health issues since it showed up a year or so ago
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