Mold smell

[Franklin]

Now I'm baffled. I'm a live-aboard on my H376 and try to have air circulation everyday before I leave for work, whether it be open hatches or fans. I look for mold in the corners to make sure because I don't want my work cloths smelling moldy. Two days ago I figured it's time to break out the screens so I went into the V-berth, moved some stuff off the custions and lifted them to get to the screens. When I openned the storage doors, I smelt something...I think moldy smell (I wasn't paying too much attention). Later that night I realized I have a bad moldy smell in the main cabin. I checked all the things that were on the cushions and they seemed ok. I checked the cushions and they seemed ok. I smelled the storage and it did seem to have a smell to it but nothing like what was circulating in the main cabin.Question 1) Could it be that I recently also just turned on the AC (had the heater running before)? I think I heard once that the AC can develop an odor.Question 2) If I do have mold below the V-birth, is there anyway to kill it without taking the V-birth apart and getting to it with vinager?

 

[Frank]

mold

Hi Franklin, we make an" ozoneater" which will take care (kill ) any mold but also takes care of smells like diesel, smoking, wet pets etc.Just plug the unt into a 110V AC and let it run for about 1 hour.Close the boat for that time and do some shore work. Come back and air out the boat and turn off the unit.And there it is a fresh and healthy boat.If you want more infor give me a call 905 458-6222. Units are CSA & UL approved.

 

[Franklin]

Ozoneater

I've been told those kill hoses so I'm not taking a change on that.

 

[Don]

Ozone Eater

I am interested in any further information on the ozone eater - is that the model produced by Newport Corp. Can they actually harm hoses? Is this the same ozone we are trying to protect?Will they help keep a boat fresh?Any comments appreciated.

 

[Franklin]

Don

According to Peggy, those machines degrade rubber and don't kill the source of the smell, just the spores of the smell floating in the air. So not long after you turn off the machine, the smell comes back. If you keep it running forever, one day your boat will sink because the thru-hull hoses deteriated. It's better to find the source and kill it. I'm just wondering if there is some kind of spray that I can spray down into the storage non reachable places to reach the smell source and kill it. Lysol says it kills germs. Does anybody think it can kill mold on contact?I've heard to keep airflow so that mold doesn't grow, but will blowing air down the V-birth storage kill the existing mold?

 

[M King]

A/C smell

Franklin, not sure if the a/c is your problem but the symptoms fit if your unit does not utilize electric heat and you do not have a condensation/leak issue with your boat. As air is drawn over the evaporator core it picks up the odor and distributes it through the vents.I have seen this on occasion when a unit is shut down for an extended period left damp. Water left in the condensate pan and on the coil mixes with dust, dander,etc. and creates a kind of smelly growth. Wipe out the pan if you can access it and GENTLY clean the coil. You can purchase a spray at most automobile dealers that is designed to kill mold and freshen evaporators (some cars have the same problem) Always run your unit on just the fan setting for a while prior to an extended shut down to dry everything out. If you do indeed have mold or an odor of any sort in the enclosure containing your unit, even though it is not associated with the unit it will be picked up by the fan and distributed via the ducts. Hope this helps. Have a great day!

 

[Franklin]

AC

Thanks King for the info. I guess the AC isn't the problem then although I will take another look at it. I was down there two weeks ago when working on the refreg. The pan was totally dry...looked rusty but not moldy. I checked the air filter and it was clean. I also have been running the reverse cycle heat, so I think that still draws air through the coils but not sure about that (the air has to come from someplace).

 

[Ross]

The solution is also the sound of

a broken record, constant ventilation in every nook and cranny in the whole boat. The reason feet stink is because they spend most of evert day inside of shoes. Close up anything in an air tight space, supply a bit of moisture and you will get fungus, fermentation and stink. Last week I added a fan to the space under the vee-berth because last fall when I opened it up there were traces of mildew in the corners. I hope that was the last place that needed positive ventilation.

 

[Jerry Clark H356 SV Persistence]

Mold growth conditions

Franklin:Mold will grow in dark places when the relative humidity is 70% or higher in warm temperatures. There are lots of places in a boat for that condition to exist. For years, we have been putting algacide tablets in condensate pans of air conditioners to keep down the growth of mold and bacteria. The link below is a product you might consider to put in your condensate pan and other places that are inaccessible that gets some condensation or bilge water. I have put them in my HVAC pan, bilge, and in the area below my toilet where we get some shower water. It kills bacteria also. Condensate pans sometimes can breed the bacteria that generate Legionaires disease. Bleach will also kill all the same stuff, but is corrosive. When people tell you to ventilate, that has the effect of lowering the relative humidity below 70%, thereby stopping the growth.I personally think these tablets (or equivalent), available at most HVAC supply houses, will eliminate a lot of musty smell in a boat.Peggy has sometimes recommended KO as a means of eliminating odors off cushions. That may also be a possible way to clean up the mold if you can find the places.

 

[novelman17128]

Kill mold and mildew

A friend of mine has an old and seldom used 28' sailboat. due to the inactivity and small amounts of water in the bilge he has odors thruout the boat. He tried a small 12volt/110volt air purifier that totally eliminateed the odors permanently. e-mail me and I'll give you all the particulars as well as a risk free trial. It also works in your car and in hotels. novelman@adelphia.net novelman

 

[Ferg]

Wife says .....

…. to place Downy dryer sheets in places where the air doesn’t circulate much. She does this in our boat and there are no more mystery smells. Also, use them to wipe down your telltales and they won’t cling to the sails.Later, eh!Ferg

 

[George]

Ventillation...NOT... in tropical areas

Ventillation, the Holy Grail of mold control, only works well in a relatively dry climate where the relative humidity is around or below 60% If your boat is located in a hot, tropical, humid area such as the gulf coast or Florida, ventillation may make the situation worse by allowing more damp air to enter the boat. To reduce the relatative humidity and eliminate mold 100% get a dehumidifier (Mermaid Marine, etc) and allow it to run constantly, draining water into a sink which drains directly overboard (not into a sump). In addition, in cooler weather, add one or two of the small round electric heaters sold at West Marine, etc. which further reduce relative humidity by heating the air in the boat a bit. The A/C unit can be run instead, but not safely in an unattended boat, as the strainer will eventually plug up and force the unit to auto shut down (if it's working correctly) or destroy the A/C if it's not. Believe me, these techniques work!

 

[Franklin]

Mold location maybe found

I believe the mold is in the vent hoses of the heater/AC system. I actually prefer having the hatches open but have been closing them the past couple of days and running the AC and spraying Lysole into the hoses. I guess I'm going to have to be force to run the AC a lot. DAMN.George...I'm a live-aboard and clean the filter regularly so that's not a problem.