Mold in an air conditioning unit can contaminate indoor air quality and lead to respiratory ailments for your family, as well as leave behind an unpleasant musty odor in your home.
Before beginning cleaning, wear a mask and gloves to protect yourself from inhaling mold spores, then purchase a bottle of mold remediation disinfectant.
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1. Remove the Cover
If you notice black spots or a musty smell when turning on your air conditioner, mold could be growing inside. Mold spores circulate throughout your home and may lead to headaches, sinusitis, breathing issues, rashes, or other symptoms for those with allergies or low immunity.
Mold thrives in moist environments, making it ideal for growth within air conditioning units. Mold also feeds off organic material such as dust particles, skin cells, and pet dander.
Assemble your AC unit before taking steps to clean it thoroughly with mold removal solutions (available at home improvement stores). Use non-porous sponges regularly and flush in hot water with a bleach solution in the sink until all visible mold has been eliminated from its surfaces, including filter and grille surfaces.
After each solution is used, you must wait at least 24 hours until everything dries completely before reusing or using again – otherwise, mold could quickly return! To keep mold at bay, use non-porous sponges when wiping vents and filter using non-porous sponges while washing in hot water with a bleach solution every few weeks for best results.
2. Remove the Filter
Mold spores can dramatically decrease air quality in your home and cause respiratory symptoms, especially for children, older adults, and individuals with allergies to mold. With a window-unit AC unit, it’s easy to clean its filter and metal cover in order to stop these spores from spreading further throughout your home.
Unscrew and remove the metal cover before opening it up and accessing the filter. Scrub your filters using a nylon scrub brush while cleaning your grille with a cloth rag or paper towel. Rinse both items under clean water before hanging them up to dry.
With various hoses and attachments available to you, you can also vacuum the grates and interior of the AC to ensure all dust has been eliminated – this prevents mold spores from gathering food sources while making the system run more effectively.
3. Clean the Vents
The mold that grows on your air conditioning vents can release musty spores into the air that may aggravate breathing issues for those who have asthma and other respiratory ailments and could irritate the skin, nose, and eyes.
As part of your vents cleaning regimen, take extra precautions in protecting yourself against mold spores by wearing protective eyewear, gloves, and masks. If you are sensitive to mold, hiring professional vent cleaning services would likely be safer.
When dealing with black mold on air conditioner vents, it’s crucial that they’re turned off immediately in order to stop its spread throughout your home and protect any furniture beneath.
Vacuuming vent covers and walls/ceilings around them is also important, along with wiping them with a damp cloth to remove any remaining dirt build-up on vents.
4. Clean the Air Conditioner
Mold can be a serious health threat in an air conditioner. Signs include dark spots, musty smells, and allergies. In these instances, it may be necessary to seek professional assistance. In extreme cases, contacting an HVAC service professional is wise.
Begin by vacuuming out your window AC unit, unbolting its metal cover from the front of the unit, and taking steps to access and uninstall its filter. With that done, unscrew its front metal cover from its position, and pull out its filter – once removed from its home.
Now that the interior of your unit and grille are clean begin working on its exterior using mold cleaner saturated into a scrub sponge to scrub any visible mold growth away. Wipe down its front case using a damp cloth before finally assembling it back together – remember to wait at least 24 hours before reassembling all of the parts.
As part of an effective maintenance regimen for portable air conditioners, it is advisable to empty its collection reservoir every eight hours while operating it to prevent moisture build-up and replace filters regularly according to manufacturer recommendations.