The air conditioner is one of the most important appliances in your home. It helps you stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. But what happens when your air conditioner starts to smell bad? What if you start to see black spots on it? You might have mold growing inside of it! Mold can be a dangerous thing, especially when it grows inside of your air conditioner. If you don’t take care of it immediately, mold can spread throughout your home. That’s why it’s important to learn how to get rid of mold in your air conditioner before it spreads! Don’t let mold spread throughout your home! Read on to get rid of mold in your air conditioner.
If there is moisture in the air, mold can grow in many areas and objects in the house. It can even grow in unseen and unthinkable places, such as your air conditioner, for example. You may notice a black spot in your air conditioner that has never been there before. Well, it is the first sign that you need to do thorough checking because we’re pretty sure it is a sign of mold growth.
The appearance of mold on the air conditioner unit certainly affects the air circulation in the house, making it unhealthy, which can endanger your and your family’s health. Untreated black mold in the air conditioner can cause nasal congestion, throat irritation, coughing, as well as skin and eye irritation. Therefore, this problem should be fixed immediately. Fortunately, cleaning the air conditioner from mold is not that difficult. You can read on to find the complete guide on how to clean black mold in your air conditioner by yourself.
What are the signs of mold in the aircon?
If you experience any of the following issues, then your air conditioner ducts may be infected with black mold:
- The house has a musty smell, especially in several rooms where the air conditioner is placed.
- When you turn the air conditioner on, the pungent smell gets worse.
- You can see the mold in the air ducts and vents.
Why can mold grow in the aircon unit?
As has been mentioned above, if there is moisture in the air, mold can easily grow anywhere. Particularly in your air conditioning system, the inside of the system is warm and has a high water vapor content—a perfect place for mold to grow.
Is mold in the air conditioner dangerous?
Your health can definitely be affected by the mold growing in your air conditioner. Some of the health problems you might encounter because of these issues are asthma, sinus infections, and some more complicated health issues like mycotoxicosis and allergic reactions.
How to prevent mold in the aircon?
- Change your air conditioner’s filter regularly
- Insulate the condensation inside the air ducts
- Maintain a dry environment throughout the whole duct system
- Using a dehumidifier in your house
The easy way to get rid of mold in the aircon
Here are things you need before getting rid of mold in your air conditioner.
- Mask
- Protective glasses
- Rubber gloves
- Screwdriver
- Buckets
- Cloth
- Brush
- Cleaning solution (or bleach or distilled white vinegar)
Turn off the air conditioner
The first step to removing mold from the air conditioner is to turn off the unit to avoid spreading more unhealthy air inside your house. A contaminated air conditioner can spread mold spores throughout your home. Afterward, use your protective gear, such as protective glasses, non-porous gloves, and face masks. Mold is dangerous and can affect your health—making you sick. Thus, donning protective gear is very important when you clean mold yourself.
Inspect the mold
Check the condition of the central air conditioner’s condition to determine the mold problem’s extent. You may notice dark spots or the growth of faint white spots, which are indicators of fungal infection on the air conditioner. In addition, if you smell an unpleasant odor when you turn on the air conditioner, there may be some kind of contamination in the air conditioner unit. Take a flashlight and look inside the air conditioner unit for any signs of mildew. Suppose you notice heavy mold growth covering half or more of the unit’s surface area. In that case, it is advisable to immediately contact a professional to have it cleaned—rather than cleaning it by yourself.
Mix cleaning solutions
You can use household multi-purpose cleaners for the cleaning solution, but you can also use diluted bleach or distilled white vinegar to clean the mold. Inside the bucket, mix warm water and diluted bleach or distilled white vinegar to kill mold.
Remove the air conditioner component
Different types of air conditioners will require different approaches for removing the air conditioner component. You can find the specific instructions on removing it in your air conditioner unit’s manual. But overall, the tool you need to remove is a screwdriver.
Vacuum the inside of the air conditioner
Clean the dust and dirt in the air conditioner with a vacuum cleaner. To make it easier to clean, you can use the vacuum cleaner’s various attachments and hoses to reach every side of the air conditioner.
Scrub the inside of the air conditioner
Scrub the mold in your air conditioner with a brush and the cleaning solution. Depending on how long the mold has been growing, you may have to scrub it with much effort or possibly little effort.
Rinse the air conditioner
After scrubbing it well, let the air conditioner unit absorb the cleaning solution before finally rinsing it with clean water. After you rinse it thoroughly, you can wipe it with a clean, dry cloth and allow the component to dry on its own. Do not turn on the air conditioner again until you are sure that the components are completely dry.
Reinstall the components of the air conditioner
After the air conditioner’s components are completely dry, put them back into the unit and turn it on.
Checking mold in your air conditioner
You can check whether you have successfully eliminated the mold problem by sniffing it after you turn on the air conditioner. If you still smell the bad odor—just like before—it means that there is still mold in your air conditioner unit. You need to contact professional help to troubleshoot this problem immediately.
Takeaway
In conclusion, mold in your air conditioner is a serious problem that needs to be addressed immediately. You can prevent mold growth by keeping the unit clean and dry and using a dehumidifier. If you think you may have a mold problem, contact an HVAC professional company for an inspection and to discuss your treatment options.