Warmth and Preventing Mold Mold generally does not grow in cold environments. A pro shares tips on how to clean your A/C, prevent mold and breathe easy. Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can provide such conditions unless you take steps to prevent moisture and “mold food” from accumulating in the system. Sunlight to Prevent Mold Mold loves dark spaces indoors to grow in. Here are 3 of the most common places we find mold in an AC and heating system and what you can do to prevent mold growth there. If you do decide to try and kill mold yourself, be sure to wear protective goggles, gloves, and a respiratory mask before applying a fungicide spray to mold spots. Leaving the air conditioning running in your home will not only cool your home, it will help remove moisture from the air and help circulate and filter the air. Mold can easily grow in an environment that is rich in moisture and organic material, and with temperatures between 32 and 120 degrees. Care for your Carpeting. In this article, I am going to show you how to remove mold from air conditioning vents, and you will be able to determine if this means a severe mold problem is present in your home. The easiest way to avoid moisture build-up in an AC unit is back when you purchase it. What is mold? Once this happens, you should thoroughly clean the objects’ surface to get rid of the gunk. Allowing sunlight in will reduce the chances of mold growing so open the curtains in rooms during the day to let natural light in. Air purifiers give you constant results as they clean all the air in a room for several minutes after switching on. Building professionals use it to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in medical facilities and buildings of all kinds. Leave on the Air Conditioning to Avoid Mold. It isn’t something you’ll have to deal with if you take the necessary measures to prevent its growth. Your air conditioning can control the temperature and humidity in your home, which can prevent the mold from growing. The influence of dust on mildew and mold growth is often overlooked. Keeping mold out of your air conditioner is the best way to ensure you have clean air circulating in your home, and there are several steps to do this. Not only is it difficult to spot early and tough to eradicate, but spores in the air can also wreak havoc on people’s allergies and bring about a wide range of unpleasant symptoms. Once conditions are suitable, it will start growing again, which is why it’s important to disinfect the objects. Ironically enough, a building occupant is much more apt to be exposed to spores from mold growth in a basement than in an attic, because air in a house flows from bottom to top and out, especially in the heating season. It may not be apparent at first, but mold can cause serious health issues, especially in children. Once you remove all the mold in your ductwork, you need to ensure that it does not grow again. But did you know that almost every HVAC system develops mold at some point? Mold in air ducts, however, can be prevented. HEPA air filters in your home also help remove mold spores from the air. UV lights in the air conditioning system will kill mold indirectly. To this end, every new closet should have wire shelving, as this can allow air to circulate, even between your clothes. Contaminated Soil. In these cases, mold testing and invasive inspection must be done by a professional to assess the damage. However, if mold has found its way into your HVAC system, appears in multiple areas on your walls, or you’re already experiencing symptoms of mold exposure, it’s time to call a mold remediation expert. Air Conditioner featured Outside of Home . Air conditioning systems do just that, condition the air. Hence, regular cleaning, disinfecting, and using the right kind of water can help prevent moldy situations while keeping the air humid enough. Besides triggering allergies and asthma, mold can cause serious harm to your home’s structure and belongings. Stale air provides perfect breeding and development conditions for the delicate mold spores – they can take roots, grow, and reproduce, completely undisturbed. Zip Code. Instead, they often run in the background in a low-power mode. Mold isn’t the only thing floating around in your home. But until it does, the fan is blowing humid air throughout the house. Another thing you can do to prevent mold and mildew on your windows is set your air conditioning thermostats above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. How to prevent mold in air conditioner? But it is not just referring the cooling… Another very important purpose of an air conditioning system is to dehumidify and pull moisture out of the air. Mold spores are everywhere in the air outside. Mold spores enter homes through windows, doors, air ducts, etc. This is because a low temperature puts mold in a dormant state. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to prevent mold from developing in your air conditioner: Reduce moisture. Although an air conditioner has limited dehumidification properties, it does help some, by removing substantial moisture from the air as it runs. Basements are magnets for mold, but they don’t have to be! It’s crucial to prevent mold in a humidifier to benefit from it. For both your health and your own clothes’ sake, here are some things you can do to prevent mold and mildew in your closet: ... Again, one of the biggest culprits of mold is lack of air circulation, so it helps to build your closets with airflow in mind. Whole house AC units should have drainage systems, ideally leading to a drain tile, through a basement slab, or to a utility sink. HEPA filters: All air conditioner units come fitted with air filters. (Photo courtesy of Angie's List member Chris O. of Orlando, Florida) Get quotes from up to 3 pros! There are several ways to prevent mold in basements, but for this article we will focus on the top 2 ways to prevent basement mold growth including: ventilation and air conditioning. Mini splits don’t cycle on and off like conventional air conditioners. Besides eliminating mold particles, air purifiers eliminate dust, pet dander, pollen, dust mite feces, smoke, VOCs, bacteria and even viruses. Also, when you buy an air conditioning, you should get one that has improved the removal of moisture. Especially if you have had reoccurring problems with mold at your house, you will want to take these steps to protect your system. For many homeowners, mold is an absolute nightmare. Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you. Even more frightening is the fact that the fastest way to spread mold through a building is through a forced-air HVAC system. One of the easiest ways to prevent mold from building up in your ductless air handlers is by not immediately turning off the system when you don’t need it. This means you need to get an HVAC preventive and maintenance plan, which will assist you in monitoring any signs of mold growth, as well as keep your AC system in good condition. You see: Mold needs three components to grow. Ventilation. If the air conditioner isn’t the issue, search for standing water or chronic dampness that's increasing indoor humidity and providing a lovely environment for mold. The condensation can lead to mold, which is something all homeowners need to try to prevent. How Do You Prevent Mold Spores In The Air? When the temperature reaches 77ºF, the a/c will still kick on and cool and reduce the humidity. People who use window air conditioners can also use filters that have been specially designed to prevent the air conditioning system from sucking in mold spores from outside the home. PM2.5, VOCs, and even CO2 may be hurting your air quality and wellbeing. Air movement helps plants dry out between waterings. They remove mold particles in the air, helping to prevent growing new mold colonies. Keep in mind, mold can also grow behind wallpaper, as the glue adhering the paper to the wall can often capture moisture, and in turn produce mold. How Can You Prevent Mold Growth in the AC System? The problem with mold is that it comes from tiny spores. It’s not 100% preventable, but with a few simple measures you can cut down the risk of mold developing in your HVAC system. This is because mold spores can be dispersed in the air alongside a mixture of water and essential oils. Desiree Thompson, gardener and plant expert at Gardening Services London, says to toss “any poorly stored compost and always keep your leftover … Mold and mold spores in the air can cause serious respiratory health effects including asthma exacerbation as well as coughing, wheezing, and upper respiratory symptoms in healthy individuals. By taking a few simple, preventative steps you can prevent basement mold and save yourself time and money. Mold & Mildew in the Home. Bathroom mold, basement mold, shower mold, and even attic mold are usually what comes to mind when you ask someone to think about areas of their home that are prone to mold. You can do this by leaving space between bigger furniture, exterior walls and running the exhaust fans in your kitchen, bathrooms and laundry rooms. But over time, damp air can cause mold to grow. Finding mold on your air conditioning vents, also called grills, can be scary and lead you to believe you have a horrible mold problem in your home. So, How Do You Prevent Mold From Growing Again In The Future?