MiST™ My Ride?

While I was waiting for my new tires to be installed the other day, a brochure on the counter caught my eye. . .

"A tidy car isn't free of mold, germ, and bacteria. A MiST™ Service is like a hand sanitizer for the vents & interior surfaces of your car. Get a MiST™ Service Today! You owe it to yourself and your family." Intrigued, I turned it over.

There was a magnified picture of a cultured sample taken from the interior of a Porshe, along with an illustration of streams of things coming from your car vent. Below these in bold print it said "Every time the fan is turned on, harmful spores are blown into the air you and your passengers breathe."

According to the EPA, some service providers may attempt to convince you that your air ducts are contaminated by demonstrating that the microorganisms found grow on a settling plate (i.e., petri dish). This is inappropriate. Some microorganisms are always present in the air, and some growth on a settling plate is normal. As for the "harmful spores" statement, only an expert can positively identify a substance as biological growth and lab analysis is normally required for final confirmation.

Upon visiting the company's website, you learn that "MiST™ utilizes atomized micro-droplets (1/10 the size of aerosol droplets) of a specially formulated solution. These droplets are drawn into an automobile's vents, penetrating and traveling to where the micro-organisms are living. MiST™ treats the entire ventilation system, including the evaporator, heater core, air ducts and passenger compartment surfaces." The company suggests that you perform this service every 6 months.

It does not say if the specially formulated solution includes water. If so, introducing this additional moisture into the system may actually promote fungal growth. Also, the EPA cautions about the use of biocides inside air ducts. They say that simply spraying or otherwise introducing these materials into the operating duct system may cause much of the material to be transported through the system and released. Depending on the product used, it may actually be more dangerous to breathe.

The company does suggest regular cleaning of your vehicle and maintenance of your filter system, both of which are important to minimize irritating contaminants.

Although this EPA document focuses on the air ducts in your home, many of the issues are the same. Read what they say at: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airduct.html, and then decide if you want to MiST™ your ride!


Air Matters LLC has performed mold testing services in the Raleigh NC area since 2002. The owner, Renee D. Ward, has over 22 years of safety and environmental experience and holds both her Bachelors and Masters degrees in engineering. Renee is also a member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association and the American Indoor Air Quality Council. You may contact Air Matters at (919) 961-2221 or info@AirMattersMoldTesting.com.

Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?

Summer in North Carolina means two things: heat and humidity. Maybe the air conditioner in your home has not been able to keep up, so you call your regular HVAC servicing company. One of the things they might suggest is having your duct work cleaned to remove dust and mold spores and improve the air flow into your home. Is this really necessary?

Despite the claims of many companies that perform duct cleaning, it has never been proven to have any substantial health benefits. Addressing the other pollutants in your home such as cooking, cleaning products, smoking, or pets can often have a more immediate impact on the air quality inside your home.

What if the service provider tells you that your ductwork or your HVAC system is contaminated with mold?

Always ask to see it. Many areas within the HVAC system or ducts are not easily accessible. Even if you see a substance that you suspect is mold, remember that positively identifying mold requires testing and laboratory analysis. Mold on hard non-porous surfaces (such as sheet metal) can be cleaned, while contaminated insulation or other such materials will need to be replaced.

However, there are times when duct cleaning may be beneficial. You should consider having your air ducts professionally cleaned if:

• you can see large accumulations of suspected (or confirmed) mold growth
• there is an infestation of rodents or insects evident inside the ductwork
• visible discharge is emitted from your air supply vents when the system is running

If you determine that having the air ducts in your home cleaned is necessary, here are some tips from the Environmental Protection Agency on selecting a service provider :

• Do not hire duct cleaners who make sweeping claims about the health benefits of duct cleaning -- such claims are unsubstantiated. Do not hire duct cleaners who recommend duct cleaning as a routine part of your heating and cooling system maintenance. You should also be wary of duct cleaners who claim to be certified by EPA. EPA neither establishes duct cleaning standards nor certifies, endorses, or approves duct cleaning companies.
• Do not allow the use of chemical biocides or chemical treatments unless you fully understand the pros and the cons of the products being used.
• Check references to be sure other customers were satisfied and did not experience any problems with their heating and cooling system after cleaning.
• Contact your county or city office of consumer affairs or local Better Business Bureau to determine if complaints have been lodged against any of the companies you are considering.
• Interview potential service providers to ensurethat they are experienced in duct cleaning and have worked on systems like yours; they will use procedures to protect you, your pets, and your home from contamination; and they comply with the National Air Duct Cleaning Association's air duct cleaning standards.
• Ask the service provider whether they hold any relevant state licenses. The following states require air duct cleaners to hold special licenses: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas. Other states may soon require them as well.
• If the service provider charges by the hour, request an estimate of the number of hours or days the job will take, and find out whether there will be interruptions in the work. Make sure the duct cleaner you choose will provide a written agreement outlining the total cost and scope of the job before work begins.

Finally, remember that the best way to avoid needing to have the air ducts in your home cleaned is to prevent dirt and water from entering your heating and cooling system.


Air Matters has performed mold inspection and testing services in the Raleigh NC area since 2002. The owner, Renee Ward, has over 22 years of safety and environmental experience and holds both her Bachelor of Science and Masters degrees in engineering. Renee is also a member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association and the American Indoor Air Quality Council. Contact Air Matters at (919) 870-6748.