One of the biggest risks to a child's health is the unseen and unresolved levels of mold hidden in central air conditioner units. The mold found there, often goes undetected until it's breached the boundaries of the vent and starts spreading throughout your walls. By then, it's too late - you have a serious mold problem and it's in the best interest of your family to vacate your home till the issue is resolved.
What is mold?
Thriving on the very last rung of the food chain, mold thrives on very little and grows rapidly. If you've every forgotten to wash a container with food remnants still stuck to the bottom, you've been a first-hand witness to mold's rapid growth rate. Now imagines this in places in your home that you can't see or have easy-access to! And given the right conditions, mold can and will pop out of thin air just about anywhere. One mold organism can quickly multiply to trillions in less than three weeks simply through their constant production of spores!
Most families find out they have a mold problem when it's too late, and the number one cause and circulator of mold is your air conditioner. While central air conditioners are a seen as a luxury item, they are also an ideal host for mold. The ductwork and drain-pans provide a perfectly moist and recessed environment for fungal growth.
How mold can harm your child
It's doubtful that any parent would want their child around mold, but unfortunately most well-intentioned parents think that if they can't see the problem or its effects, then it can't be that serious. But mold causes serious health problems, especially for young children who are still developing their immune system. Mold can cause allergies, asthma, hypersensitivity, skin care problems, pneumonia, constant colds and flus, and even the possibility of bleeding lung disease - all of which will damage and weaken your child's immune system. Letting mold perpetuate in your home is as bad as blowing air over a swamp or through a sewer and right into your home where your children live, sleep, eat and play.
Signs of mold
Wood or fabric discoloration is a big. However, all discoloration is not due to mold. Carpeting near baseboards, for example, can be stained by outdoor pollution entering the house. Stains or soot may be caused by the smoke from burning candles or cigarettes. However, if you suspect mold, then keep a look out for discolored growth and contact a professional immediately. Note that it is difficult to identify mold since not all of the 270 mold types can be detected through smell.
How your child can be at risk
Indoor air quality studies by the World Health Organization show that 60-80% of indoor air quality problems are mold related, and that the most notorious perpetuator of mold is the central air conditioner system lurking in your home, with ducts and vents accessing each corner of your house - making it easy for an invasive attack of mold spores without you ever knowing it.
As mold and bacteria grow on in ducts and drain pans, they are distributed through ducts to your living spaces. This is an ever bigger concern if you're child is in school or day care. In such populated settings with poor AC environments, its very possible for a sick child to enter the premises and get other kids sick. How does this happen? For example, if a child comes in with the flu, its a very real probability that the virus may get transmitted to the air conditioner unit and remain there till it's redistributed throughout the room(s). This is one of the number one ways children get sick at a facility, even though they may be in completely different rooms.
If you suspect your child is getting ill at their school, talk to the school's superintendent and voice your concerns. Public buildings with poor air quality and possible mold/air pollutant problems are identified as "sick buildings". Make sure you take action because this is a problem that isn't going to go away on its own.
What you can do
Your best bet for avoiding mold problems in your home, or child's environment, is to invest in a portable AC. Portable ACs are fast becoming the smart family's alternative to cooling their home. These mobile room air conditioners offer spot cooling without the hassle of ducts and vents - all glorious havens for mold spores. Most mobile ACs now come with the multiple filters and dual functions, including dehumidifiers to remove excess mold-causing moisture from the area.
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