How To Clean Mold From Your Air Conditioner Unit
If your indoor humidity levels are high and your AC unit has gone years without a thorough cleaning, there’s a good chance mold has grown on and inside the unit. Each time your AC kicks on, those mold spores spread throughout your home, causing respiratory issues and worsening allergies. You might see visible mold on your unit, smell musty odors, or experience the respiratory symptoms that often arise with indoor mold.
Knowing how to clean mold from your AC unit can help you resolve this problem. Some cleaning tasks are doable on your own, but for others, scheduling professional AC service in Tucson, AZ, may be wiser.
Turn Off the Unit
Start by shutting off power to the AC. For a window unit, this means turning off the power button and unplugging it. For a central AC system, you might turn off power using a switch near your HVAC system or by shutting off the corresponding breaker switch.
By turning off your AC, you reduce the risk of shock or electrocution while cleaning the AC unit and prevent injuries if the system were to turn on while you are cleaning the internal components.
Clean or Replace the Filter
One of the fastest ways to improve indoor air quality is to clean or replace the air filter. If your filter can be cleaned, vacuuming off the dust and washing it with warm water and a small amount of soap allows it to resume its job of catching airborne dust and mold spores. Replacing disposable filters once a month is also important for helping your unit run efficiently and reducing energy bills.
Use Water and Mild Soap To Clean Visible Mold Spots
If you see dark-colored mold spots on or around your AC unit, you can typically remove them with warm water and a mild detergent. It’s important to wear gloves and a mask when cleaning mold on an AC unit to avoid breathing in the spores. Scrub at the mold spots with a soapy cloth until they are gone.
If there is mold on your AC unit, there’s a good chance it is also inside the unit. Removing all mold might involve cleaning AC coils and other internal parts, along with thoroughly inspecting the system for lingering spores.
Contact Professionals for More Extensive Cleaning
There may be mold in more intricate parts of your HVAC system, like the blower fan, condensate drain line, and evaporator coils. Adequately removing mold requires you to disassemble components, clean them, and then reassemble the system, which leaves significant room for error.
Knowing how to clean mold from an AC unit isn’t the same as having the tools and skills to do so safely. While you can change air filters and complete other basic cleaning on your own, it’s best to enlist professional assistance for more intensive cleaning tasks. Eazy Breezy Heating & Cooling provides comprehensive HVAC services in the greater Tucson area, including HVAC system cleaning and air conditioner mold removal.
Call us today at 520-207-0334 for a free quote.