Air Quality · Mold
If there’s visible mold inside your air ducts or on HVAC components, the EPA recommends having the system professionally cleaned — and the moisture source fixed so it doesn’t return. Mold in ducts can spread spores and a musty smell through your home every time the system runs. In NC’s humid climate it’s one of the most common reasons homeowners need duct cleaning. Here’s what to do.
By the Prestige Protected Team · Updated June 2026 · Cary, Raleigh & the NC Triangle
Signs of mold in your air ducts
- A persistent musty or mildew smell when the HVAC runs
- Visible black, green, or white growth around vents/registers
- Worsening allergy or respiratory symptoms indoors
- Recent water damage, leaks, or high indoor humidity
What to do about duct mold
Per the EPA, cleaning is appropriate when there’s substantial visible mold — but it must be paired with fixing the underlying moisture problem, or the mold returns. Our process removes the contamination at the source and applies an EPA-registered treatment, then we advise on humidity control. Related: air duct cleaning & allergies and musty smell from vents.
Source: U.S. EPA guidance on air duct cleaning and mold.