Mold, as per the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), requires oxygen, moisture, and food to form. As such, any interior surface in your home that’s perpetually moist is a prime candidate for mold growth, and this includes your air conditioning system. Air conditioner mold is especially dangerous given that it gets distributed throughout the entire building and will cause a number of health issues among both human residents and pets. This is why it is important to have your air conditioner regularly inspected by a licensed HVAC contractor.
Effective Strategies for Preventing Air Conditioner Mold
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In the event that you find mold in your air conditioner unit, it’s important to take fast action so that extensive damages throughout the living environment are either avoided entirely or minimized. Dealing with widespread mold problems can be incredibly inconvenient and surprisingly expensive. It’s additionally important to note that mold damages are only covered by home insurance policies when they’re determined to be the direct result of a covered peril like faulty appliances and the resulting flooding. This ultimately means that you can avoid a number of expenses by simply protecting your air conditioner from mold growth. Here are a few important things to know about air conditioner mold to help you get started.
The Dangers of Air Conditioner Mold
Although mold isn’t exactly life-threatening, Medical News Today reports that it is capable of causing a diverse range of health problems for building residents. Mold produces a number of toxins that negatively impact the respiratory system and cause problems like breathing troubles, allergic reactions, and a condition known as aspergillosis. These problems are all greatly compounded when mold enters air conditioning units because mold spores are then continuously circulated throughout the living environment. Mold can even impact how well your home cooling equipment performs, especially if it’s given the opportunity to spread to moving or electrical components.
Several Signs Your Air Conditioner Has Mold
Given that having mold problems in your home is so dangerous, it is important to be on the lookout for evidence of mold in your cooling system. Mold has a tendency to form in the moist parts of air conditioning equipment, which are in areas that are not always easy to see. Moreover, unless mold spores actually start to sprout, viewing these with the naked eye could prove downright impossible. The surest way to determine whether or not you’ve got mold in your home air conditioning systems or in other household areas is to have a licensed HVAC contractor perform a mold inspection.
With their training and skills in this area, and their historical experience with mold issues. HVAC companies can tell whether or not your AC has mold even when it remains a microscopic issue. Understanding this, you should still look for these signs:
- Dank, Musty Odors: Air quality experts recognize musty odors as being an initial and clear sign of mold or mildew. Thus, if you’ve got a pervasive musty smell in your home and cannot determine its source, it is probably air conditioner mold.
- Visible Evidence of Mold: Even though mold starts out as microscopic, especially during the formative stages of development, it produces spores that eventually become visible. Moreover, depending upon how much moisture is present, the level of light in the area, and the available food sources, it can take on various hues. Mold can be green, red, white, grey, black, purple orange, or brown. When mold has color, it is easy to see.
- Health Problems: In the event that you or other people or pets living in your home suddenly fall ill whenever your cooling system is active, you should probably assume that your air conditioner has mold. With this in mind, common symptoms of health problems caused by mold include teary eyes, coughing, and sneezing among many others. Some people may additionally develop a stuffy nose, wheezing, itching skin, or other signs of allergic reactions.
Getting Rid of Air Conditioner Mold
Removing mold entails a considerable amount of risk and thus, this is a job that’s best handled by seasoned and qualified HVAC technicians. Only certified HVAC technicians have the expertise for competently handling issues like these. Schedule an appointment with a reputable HVAC company to have your air conditioner thoroughly inspected, cleaned, and maintained. During this visit, all mold will be removed and measures will be taken to prevent further mold problems.
Ways to Prevent Air Conditioning Unit Mold
Once you’ve identified mold in your air conditioner and have scheduled an appointment to have an HVAC company remove it, a lot of damage will have already occurred. Ultimately, prevention is always an easier and more cost-effective way to deal with mold in this appliance. Scheduling routine air conditioner maintenance appointments should be sufficient. HVAC companies can protect your home cooling equipment from mold by leveraging these preventative strategies:
- Air Conditioner Disinfection: Typically, one very effective way to prevent mold development is by disinfecting the A/C equipment, the air ducts, and other parts of this system so that harmful microorganisms are eliminated. Qualified HVAC technicians use disinfectants that are EPA-approved when completing these services.
- Regularly Replacing Your Air Conditioner Filter: Depending upon the quality of the air in and around your home, you may want to clean your HVAC filter every two weeks or so if you have reusable filters. According to the United States Department of Energy, this component should be changed out entirely once every 30 to 90 days, depending on your particular home. Check your disposable filter monthly and replacer as needed.
- Use Mold Inhibitor: Mold inhibitors are chemicals that are designed to prevent mildew and mold.
- Maintain Dry HVAC Air Ducts: Moist surfaces are ideal breeding grounds for mildew, mold, and other harmful organisms. Given that HVAC air ducts are known to retain moisture, enlist the help of an HVAC company to keep them generally dry. Air ducts can be cleaned, repaired, and replaced in areas where the water damage has already occurred.
UV Light Installation: UV lights kill nearly all microbes including mold and various forms of bacteria which is why they are highly effective for mold prevention.
Conclusion
Mold in your air conditioner can compromise the health of everyone in the home and cause property damage. Thus, you should have a trusted HVAC company perform regular air conditioner system inspections and cleaning. You can also get tips from HVAC technicians for mold prevention.
Contact PFO Heating & Air Conditioning for Superior HVAC Services
PFO Heating & Air Conditioning provides high-quality HVAC services in the Greater Princeton, NJ area. We have only the best highly trained and professionally certified technicians on staff who can conduct excellent heating and cooling installations, replacements, repairs, and maintenance. All our friendly techs have the right tools, experience, and knowledge to service your HVAC system correctly.
Our company offers highly competitive HVAC service rates in the locality. Rest assured, our tune-up services help improve your indoor air quality, comfort, and energy efficiency while reducing your home’s energy costs. If you need an HVAC repair or replacement system, we can recommend the best one within your budget. Your satisfaction is our priority, so all our work comes with a guarantee. Give PFO Heating & Air Conditioning a call today to schedule a service appointment. We offer free, in-home estimates.
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