July 2023
Black spots on a wet towel not properly hung to dry, or on a piece of cheese left in the fridge too long, are visible signs of mould. Both are easily addressed by throwing out the item and replacing it. Black spots in the corners of a shower, also mould, can usually be addressed with surface cleaning.
Mould growing inside the walls of your home is another matter. It can grow unseen in heating, cooling and ventilation equipment, and be in the air you breathe. Water damage can cause excessive mould growth if not properly repaired. Relatively minor symptoms of repeated exposure to mould include chronic cough, congestion, sinus infections, headaches and irritated eyes. More serious health problems include asthma.
There is no easy way to see hidden mould. It may reside in the fan coil that cools your home, in the fan coil unit or walls next to it. These dark and warm spaces, possibly moist from condensation or leaks and particularly if poorly maintained for 20 or more years, are ideal breeding spaces for mould that spreads with airflow.
Fan coils are a common element in about 40 percent of high-rise communities in Ontario. In the remaining 60 percent of communities, fan coil systems are owned by the unit. Many communities choose to handle fan coil maintenance and repair as common area maintenance regardless of ownership. A typical preventative maintenance program includes systems checked twice a year at which time filters are replaced. Damaged components or mould can be identified and addressed before serious problems arise.
