How to Prevent Mold in Your AC Unit

When mold grows in your house, it releases spores that are easily inhaled. Molds can cause throat irritation, nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, coughing, or in some instances, skin irritation. People who are immunocompromised, with chronic lung illnesses, and allergic to mold may get seriously infected when exposed to mold.

Mold growing in an air conditioning unit isn’t essentially more harmful than molds growing elsewhere in the house. Nevertheless, the function of an AV is to spread cool air in a room, while the HVAC ducts distribute air all over the house. If mold grows in these devices, they will certainly distribute mold spores throughout a room or the entire house. If the mold spore’s concentration is substantially high, you may have a mold problem all over rather than in one location.

How does mold grow in air conditioners?

Mold spores are all over. Regrettably, it is not possible to eliminate all the mold spores in the house, and if so did, more would enter the house every time you open a window or door. Whenever spores grow into the mold, they produce more spores. These higher spore concentrations are what bring about the health issues associated with mold. Therefore, the remedy is to foil the growth of mold from the onset.

Mold requires two things to grow: an organic food source and moisture. Moisture often comes from a spill or a leak that is not properly cleaned or from high humidity. Evaporator and condenser coils are the leading contributors to condensation, and thus high leakage potential if not appropriately drained.

Under most circumstances, HVAC and air conditioner ducts are inhospitable places for the growth of mold. Styrofoam channels and sheet metal ducts inside window units do not provide any source of food for mold. Nevertheless, dirt often gets in these areas allowing mold growth.

Mold easily grows in moisture and organic material-rich environments, and with temperatures ranging from 30 to 120 degrees. Your air conditioning system can offer such conditions unless you prevent mold’s food sources and moisture from collecting in the system. Here are some essential tips to prevent HVAC mold growth:

• Carry out drain pan maintenance. When the drain pans aren’t properly inclined and regularly cleaned, stagnant water will not drain but accumulate in the pans. The water and microorganisms in the pans will support mold growth.
• Regularly replace air filters. Dirty and wet air filters are not effective at trapping mold and mold spores, mildew, and other particles. These particles will contaminate your AC system if you do not replace the filters regularly. 
• Apply a mold inhibitor. EPA-registered mold inhibitors prevent mildew and AC unit mold growth in your system. You should apply the inhibitor to all the parts of your cooling and heating unit in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions.
• Use disinfectant. Treat your HVAC system with a disinfectant before applying the mold inhibitor. Ensure you use an EPA-approved disinfectant labeled for use in AC systems.
• Keep the ducts dry. Some HVAC system ducts might harbor substantial amounts of moisture. Have your system regularly checked to find the most affected ducts and then have them Cleaned and fixed.
• Have the air intake regularly checked. Air intakes near regions where organic materials collect transport microbes and other contaminants into the HVAC system. Ensure to maintain the areas under air intake clean by removing stagnant water and bird droppings, moving dumpsters, etc.

Categorised in: Air Conditioner