The Breeze Disease - A Note on Air Quality Control

A beach vacation is one of America’s greatest joys.  On the Gulf Coast, we’re fortunate to be living the beachfront dream every day.  Unfortunately, our carefree environment is anything but relaxing for our homes.

Naturally, staying at a condo on the beach almost inevitably means we or our guests want to leave the door open to let in the warm breeze and the sounds of waves and seagulls.  We love the fresh air coming into our homes… but this actually creates a huge threat to our air quality.  The coastal South has the highest rate of airborne mold spores in the United States.  Our beautiful weather has exposed us to a serious health threat; it is our duty to ourselves as property owners to respond accordingly.

Everyone needs a vacation…even your AC

When we leave our doors open and our AC on, our cooling system is working overtime to process hot and humid air, resulting in condensation throughout the duct work.  When the ducts are not properly cleaned and maintained - which is almost always - we are laying fertile ground for mold to flourish.  These toxic spores are handed everything they need to multiply plentifully.

If you want to leave your door open for that sweet ocean breeze, give your AC some time off.  Humidity is lowest on the Gulf Coast during the winter months, hovering around seventy-five percent. But, the recommended maximum humidity for AC’s to operate in is fifty percent.  Leaving the door open and the AC on is a guaranteed way to welcome mold growth and to ruin your AC motor.  Prevention is both the cheapest and safest way to protect your property from dangerous microbes.  Be mindful of what you are letting in, and be proactive in making sure mold isn’t your most frequent guest.

The Gulf Coast is a beauty like none other. But tropical air comes with a price - mold flows freely into our homes on the breeze