Whether you see it on bread, walls, or a shower curtain, mold is never a good sign. The same goes for mold in air conditioners. Mold can cause severe allergy symptoms and a lot of discomfort. 

For a healthier home, checking for mold in your air conditioners is absolutely essential. Here are some tips on how to spot it, clean it, and keep it from happening in the future.

Why Monitor Mold?

Whenever mold is present, it poses a major danger to you and your family’s health. Mold produces spores that travel through the air and can cause symptoms like headache, sore and itchy throat, sneezing, runny nose, and post-nasal drip—just to name a few. Since AC units are what push air around your home, checking for mold in your air conditioner will ensure you have the best air quality and help prevent sickness. It’s a win-win for all!!

What Causes Mold?

There are a few conditions that are ideal for mold growth: moisture, warmth, and darkness. Unfortunately, these three factors are almost always present in air conditioners, making them an ideal spot for mold to set up shop. 

While AC units keep your home cool, they also produce a great deal of condensation and humidity. To that point, the air that blows out may be cold, but your air conditioner can get quite warm as it works hard to control the temperature. Combined with the lack of light within an air conditioner, it makes sense why mold would find it a habitable environment. 

Lastly, mold needs organic matter to survive. The pollen and dust that filter through an AC unit is the exact nourishment mold looks for. 

How to Clean Mold from Your AC Unit

The first step in getting rid of mold is spotting it. Take a good look at your air conditioner, plus the filters and vents it’s connected to. If you spot any fuzzy green or black patches, you’ve likely  got mold. 

But just because you can’t see mold doesn’t mean it’s not there. Smell is another giveaway. If your air conditioner is giving off a musky or unpleasant odor, beware of mold. In addition, should you start to exhibit any of the symptoms of a mold allergy, it’s another sign you may be dealing with mold in your air conditioners. 

Once you’ve identified a mold problem, here are a few different ways to clean it up.

1. DIY. Probably your best bet for smaller wall and window units. You can use household cleaners to wipe away mold and clean your filter. However, make sure to inspect and clean all of the air conditioning systems as soon as possible. For more advice, check out our step-by-step cleaning guide.
2. Hire an Expert. For people with more complex air conditioners at home, you will want to call in an expert for cleaning. Given that larger ACs are made of various vents and filters around your home, an HVAC specialist will know best how to attack the problem so that mold is completely eliminated.
3. Replace the Unit. This, of course, is the last resort, but sometimes the mold is too embedded in a unit to save. In these cases, you have to put your health first. Again, an AC expert will be able to advise on this option.

Mold Prevention

Mold in air conditioners can strike at any time. Just because you don’t have it now, doesn’t mean it won’t be an issue later. The best way to combat future mold is with prevention. Here are a few tips.

1. Regular maintenance is key. Have an expert service your air conditioner at least once a year.
2. Replace or clean filters regularly. Keeping them clean will ward off mold.
3. Seal and insulate air ducts and units. The key is to keep everything as dry as possible to prevent condensation. 
4. Make sure drainage systems are working. Again, when it comes to mold, moisture is bad. Proper drainage will ensure a drier air conditioner. 
5. Use your air conditioner, especially in warmer months. Keeping your AC running prevents mold from growing. 

No Mold, No Problems

Mold in air conditioners is not a task you need to handle alone. Whether giving your AC an annual check-up or helping you evaluate how to tackle your mold challenges, we are here to help. Give us a call for all your mold cleaning and prevention needs.