08/30/2026
Our new condo gave me a perfect real world example of something I’ve preached for years in the HVAC and indoor air quality industry: Don’t just sell widgets. Solve problems.
After purchasing our new condo, we noticed mold issues around some of the supply vents downstairs. It would have been easy to look at that and say, “We need a UV light,” or “Let’s upgrade the filtration.” And while I’m a huge believer in both of those technologies when properly applied, neither one addresses the most important question:
Why is the mold there in the first place?
After doing some investigating, we found a HUGE gap around the ductwork where it entered the mechanical room. That opening was allowing hot, humid attic air to be pulled into the mechanical space, contributing to the moisture conditions that were showing up as mold around the supply vents downstairs.
There was the real problem.
So before worrying about what IAQ technology we could install, we addressed the source. Seal the opening. Stop the attic air infiltration. Correct the underlying moisture issue. THEN apply the appropriate technologies to help maintain a clean, healthy HVAC system and indoor environment.
This is exactly why I’ve always believed good indoor air quality starts with understanding the home as a system. UV lights, high-efficiency filtration, air purification and other IAQ products are great tools……but they’re tools, not substitutes for proper diagnosis.
Sometimes the best thing you can do for a homeowner isn’t selling them another product. It’s taking the time to figure out why they have the problem in the first place.
Find the cause. Fix the problem. Then apply the technology.
