How to Prevent Mold Growth in Air Conditioners

Because there is moisture inside your air conditioners, it breeds the growth of mold. All air conditioners attract mold spores due the oxygen rich and moist environment. When mold grows inside your air conditioner, it is not a healthy sign because the spores can spread easily through the air and make people inside the room sick.

If you are not careful, air conditioners can become a breeding place for mold. When dust gets inside the cooling fins and becomes damp, mold forms overtime. A well-designed and maintained air conditioner should prevent any mold growth. However, units that are badly designed or not maintained regularly will encourage mold to grow.

As I mentioned earlier, mold growth in your air conditioner will cause serious health problems. When you inhale mold spores, it can trigger asthma attack or allergic reactions for some people. The spores can also irritate the skin, eyes, lungs, nose and throat, causing a lot of discomfort.

Therefore it is very important to prevent mold growth in your air conditioners. Now, let me share with you some tips to prevent mold from growing:

1. Clean your air conditioner regularly. Use a clean cloth to wipe the dust off the cooler fin. This will prevent dust from gathering and turning into mold due to moisture.

2. Make sure that the condensation pan is not overflowing. When there is too much water in the pan, it will encourage mold growth. So always clear the pan regularly.

3. After cleaning the air conditioner with air cloth, allow it to dry before turning it on.

4. Hire an air conditioner maintenance company to service your unit regularly. The technician will perform maintenance checks on your system to ensure that everything is fine.

The best solution to stop mold growth is to control the moisture of the system. If you see that your system starts to drip water, get it fixed immediately. Also, when you see moisture around the base of the air handler, it means that the condensation pipe is blocked and you need to address the problem immediately.

Last but not least, take a closer look at the exterior of your air conditioner. If you find any mold on hard surfaces, use detergent, bleach and water to wash it away. Do not use your hand to touch it. Always remember the best solution to prevent mold growth is to keep your system free from moisture.