Preventing Air Conditioner Mold To Grow

Preventing Air Conditioner Mold To Grow Right Away

It is crucial for us to know some tips for preventing air conditioner mold because the weather tends to become unbearable these days. As a result, we rely on our air conditioners often than usual for cool air. With a quick turn of the knob, we are comforted by its familiar, low wheezing sound, knowing that our surroundings will be at a more desirable temperature in just a matter of minutes. We go on with our daily lives, and everything is as good as it can be.

But did you know that it is one of the perfect places where mold thrives? In fact, air conditioners are a favorite because of the dampness of their nature. That’s why it should be on top of our list to make sure that they are well-maintained and free of mold.

Always remember that a mild mold situation can quickly escalate to something big. So when we find out that we have mold problems, we have to act on it right away! The first thing that we can do to prevent the presence of mold in our air conditioning unit is to keep it clean. By doing this, we are limiting the growth of organic matter which serves as food for mold. 

Take the time to free our unit from dirt and dust by checking it regularly. But if we think that the situation is already out of our control, then it is best to hire a professional to clean the ducts of our air conditioner. We should not take this situation lightly as air conditioners with dirty ducts can cause serious health problems.

If we want to enjoy the benefits of our unit, we must take good care of it too. The simple act of cleaning it regularly can help prevent mold and keep our air conditioning system operating smoothly. If we have a window type of air conditioning, we should make it a habit to change the filter to avoid mold buildup. 

The coils should also be free from dirt and debris and must not be bent or damaged. Changing our unit’s filter can help prevent any of these from happening, but a regular check-up is the only thing that can give us a sound mind.

Moreover, we should keep our air conditioners draining channels free from leaks and clogs. Any leakage or moisture can nurture mold and even amplify its presence. But if we don’t have the luxury of time to conduct regular check-ups, we should at least hire someone who will. 

Numerous HVAC companies offer preventative maintenance at a very affordable price. This service can help minimize the dampness in our unit’s ducts and terminate the growth of mold. We should always remember that even a little moisture can be a good breeding ground for mold, especially when it meets the humid external temperatures and fosters condensation.  

Preventing Air Conditioner Mold To Grow– Things to Look Out For

Before we can fight and eliminate the mold in our air conditioning systems, we should be aware of the signs that it is indeed present. Here’s a shortlist to guide us:

• Visible mold growing on the external part of the unit
• A stale or musty odor every time the unit is turned on
• The presence of mildew – a common type of mold that produces powdery gray or white stains
•  Streaks or clusters of brown, black, or greenish stains
• The air conditioning unit suddenly sounds too loud

Preventing Air Conditioner Mold To Grow – Purchase a Unit with Humidity Control Function

As mentioned earlier, the first thing that we can do to prevent the presence of mold in our unit is to conduct regular check-ups and cleaning. By doing so, we can keep moisture puddles to a minimum. We should also keep in mind that dust and dirt will never be our friends; they play a significant role in mold growth.

The next one on the list of tips for preventing air conditioner mold is choosing a unit that has a humidity control function. Systems that have this function automatically regulate the moisture level in the air, thus eliminating the chance of mold formation right away.

In fact, one of the reasons behind the creation of air conditioners is to help condition the air in the environment. If the level of humidity is controlled, there will be no room for mold to form and thrive. And come to think about it, if they were created for the sole purpose of cooling the air, they should have been named air cooler.

The next option in preventing the presence of mold is to keep our air conditioners on all the time. This may not seem like a smart choice for everyone, especially for those who are on a budget. Just think of how much it will cost our electricity if we keep them running all day and night! But it is a very effective way to stop the growth of mold.

Some people switch their systems to ‘auto’ mode when they go on vacation, leave the house, or just don’t need it for cooling. If we turn off our air conditioners, we are blocking the airflow and causing the temperature to rise, which leads to mold buildup. 

We have to keep in mind that the absence of air circulation is one factor that causes moisture – one of the things that mold really loves! In fact, mold only needs three things to grow and expand, and these are moisture, food, and warmth. If we eliminate the presence of these factors from our home, office, and surrounding, we will be able to control mold and its harmful effects.

Preventing Air Conditioner Mold To Grow and Avoid Respiratory Problems

We have already established how important having an air conditioning system is nowadays. Without it, we will not be able to have a comfortable living area, let alone survive the heat. However, since it is one of the most favored breeding grounds of mold, it may be a source of danger too.

Air conditioners that are mold-infested are hazardous to our health, especially to those who already have respiratory problems such as asthma. One way that we can deal with this particular situation is to have a UV filter installed in our unit. 

This filter helps regulate the formation of mold spores and destroys them in the process. We can always ask our HVAC contractor more about this – to give us a clearer idea and quotes as well.

Another thing that we can do to reduce the symptoms of allergies and asthma is to make sure our air conditioners are free from dust. Wiping with a damp cloth is sometimes just not enough to remove all the dust and residue, which is why we need to use a vacuum. 

Vacuuming can effectively remove all the organic compounds that are not visible to the naked eye from our units. It can clean up all the pollen and tiny particles and leave no space for mold to expand. And if vacuuming doesn’t remove everything, it will surely disturb the buildup and allow the air conditioner’s filter to eliminate it further.