While window AC units are fairly waterproof, avoid spraying the controls and the spot where the electrical cord is attached. But you should get a professional to do it. When you have finished, spray the entire area down again and wipe it out once more to ensure that all mold spores and dirt that could be growing mold are gone. Mold testing and remediation is an area of specialty all its own. The AUTO setting will run the fan only during the cooling cycles and will shut the fan off between. Mold and other contaminants grow on the evaporators and are sent into the passenger cabins by the blowers. Even if you can’t see it, you might feel its presence. Please read the label carefully. The AC blower fan sucks in warm, humid air from inside your home and blows it over cold evaporator coils (the A-shaped contraption). This is due to the fact that airborne moisture (which occurs when an exhaust fan is missing) causes mold growth only on the side facing the humid conditions. Just stand in the middle of the room and look up. It’s common to find mold in your air conditioner or furnace. I know it’s unhealthy to breathe air that contains mold spores but I’d rather not buy a new AC if I can remedy the problem myself. Get free, no-commitment estimates from mold removal experts near you. This is a common practice when people go on vacation, but when the weather is warm and humid, mold is more likely to get a foothold in the AC unit. When an air conditioner is in use, condensation often forms on the unit's evaporator coils. Remove the unit from the window, using a screwdriver to remove the frame that secures it. Scrub the grill. Remove the air filter. Removing Black Mold in Air Ducts. Contaminated air conditioning and heater/ evaporator cores can cause foul smelling, health threatening mold and mildew deposits. Delays and neglect can turn out to be lethal. Spray the coils (U-shaped metal tubes near the front and the back of the unit) with commercial coil cleaner and let the product dwell as directed by the manufacturer to dissolve anything that’s collected on AC coils. Fan. Your nose, throat, and eyes feel irritated when you switch on the air conditioning or step inside an air-conditioned room. Vacuum out dust and debris from the inside of the air conditioner. Removing Black Mold in Air Ducts. Most people are aware that exposure to household mold can cause illness. Mold spreads and grows easily and before you know it, you can have mold growing throughout the room. However, cleaning out the unit to ensure that the mold is dead is slightly more difficult. She has a bachelor's degree in English and graduate work in creative writing and plant biology. This article illustrates and describes key steps in removing and cleaning the blower fan assembly in an air handler used for air conditioning or heating. The fan mode for central air conditioning systems is entirely different from the fan mode for window-box air conditioning … Air Conditioner Mold. An air conditioner sitting in humid conditions sets up a prime breeding ground for mold. To truly reduce humidity, you need air conditioning or a dehumidifier. The fan inside the unit might blow harmful bits of mold into the room upon startup. Spray it lightly with the mold-killing spray before you start working to prevent … If there is mold on the air conditioner coils, mold spores can easily spread through the ducts in your ventilation system. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Even more frightening is the fact that the fastest way to spread mold through a building is through a forced-air HVAC system. Remove the A/C unit grill. (Defrost is also AC, so you need to run the fan for 10 minutes after defrost as well). This the reason it does so well on old ignored food in the fridge. Killing mold on an A/C unit is not as difficult as you might think. Spray the filter that’s been soaking in the sink with the hose to remove all debris. But in south Florida, it circulates warm moist air, which can spawn mold growth. The filter may pop out, or you may need to unscrew a few screws to get it off. Swirl them to mix them up, but do not shake the bottle to form suds. AC units vary in the way they are assembled, so check your owner’s manual to determine how to identify and disassemble the exterior cabinet so that you can access the interior. Remove the top and the back of the cabinet, following the directions in your owner’s manual. Talk to your apartment owner … The fan mode and switches are one such example. PollenTec Box Fan MERV 10 Nano Air Filters Pollen, Dust, Mold Spores and Pet Dander – Biodegradable, Electrostatic Design 6 Pack - Compatible with Holmes HBF2010A-WM Box Fans 20.5" Frame 3.0 out of 5 … Successfully banishing mold from an AC depends on where it’s located. Humidity higher than 60% gives mold a perfect environment in which to grow. Harsh chemicals in fungicides can harm its delicate evaporator and condenser coils. Remove the air filter. Removing mold that has begun growing inside air vents can be a challenge. RELATED: 14 Surprising Places Where Mold Hides in the Home. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. Is this possibly a bathroom where you don’t run the exhaust fan? In these systems, mold might bloom in corners of air handlers and ducts and fan blade edges throughout the system. The final cause of mold in the ac unit is from not running it regularly. Q: There’s been a mysterious, slightly moldy smell in my home all summer, and this morning, when our window air conditioner kicked on, I noticed that the odor unmistakably came from the unit. This in released into the evaporator / heater core. Less frequent starts and stops of the fan can reduce the stress from startup, and potentially help extend it’s lifespan. mold in window air conditioner. When the temperature reaches 77ºF, the a/c will still kick on and cool and reduce the humidity. ... Because humidity levels vary from day to day, the thermostat should have been left at or below 74 degrees, and the fan should have been set to "On." Mold spreads and grows easily and before you know it, you can have mold growing throughout the room. These lights emit ozone that is bad for the lungs, emit ultra violet radiation which is bad for the skin … A: Mold does have a tendency to grow inside air conditioners that sit unused for a while. I wasn't sure were it was coming from until I noticed condensation building up on the AC. Mold in the air outside can be brought indoors on clothing, shoes, bags, and even pets. The evaporator coils absorb heat and moisture from the air (and moisture slowly collects on the evaporator coils). The cost to clean air duct systems ranges from $250-500 per home. Saturate a scrubbing sponge in the bleach solution and use it to wipe the inside surfaces of the AC unit, removing all traces of visible mold. The short answer to whether or not you can spray your air conditioner to kill mold is: Yes. Some experts recommend using ozone, but the CDC and other agencies have warned that this method of removing mold can be damaging to the respiratory system. For example, if you usually set the temperature to 75 degrees Fahrenheit when you’re home, set it 10 degrees warmer to 85 degrees Fahrenheit before you leave. AC units are heavy, so recruit someone to help you take it to your yard or driveway and place it on a concrete surface or on a large piece of plywood. Other tips for using your A/C to prevent mold include setting your A/C’s fan mode to auto because setting it to “on” can cause moisture produced during the air conditioning process to be blown back into your home, reports the Florida Solar Energy Center. During the hot, humid summer months, set your air conditioner to between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideally, it should be vented outside by an exhaust fan. In these cases, good cold air is not necessarily good healthy air. Mold spores can cause a variety of health complications. Removing Mold in Air Conditioner Systems. After dragging our window AC out of storage, I noticed that it was full of mold. Can you imagine mold growing on and releasing spores from your AC filter? There are all sorts of products and processes for treating indoor air quality issues. The final cause of mold in the ac unit is from not running it regularly. Mix up your cleaning solution. If this is a mold remediation issues, than after you have identified the source of the moisture, application of MMR-II would be done to kill and of the mold on the non porous surface and clean that surface. Turn off your air conditioner to prevent further mold spores from entering your home. Mold in window air conditioner units is a serious problem because every time you turn on your air conditioner, it will blow tiny, invisible mold spores into the room. Yeah, but that doesn’t tell you shit. To ensure that you and your family stay cool and healthy this summer, keep your AC thermostat fan setting to AUTO. Leave on the Air Conditioning to Avoid Mold. Remove the grille and the filter from the front of the unit. Step 3 – Apply the Cleaning Solution and Scrub. Mold can get in your home through open doors, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. However, if your fan assembly (ducts, AC coils, etc.) Air Conditioners & Heat Pump Air Handler Mold Removal How to clean mold from a window or wall air conditioner or heat pump. Replace the grill and screw it back into place. Leakages within the ac unit are another cause, which is usually the result of an incorrectly installed system or due to a lack of maintenance. Alternately, you could call a mold remediation specialist to inspect the unit to see if it can be professionally cleaned, but the consultation could cost as much as purchasing a new air conditioner. Leaving your AC fan set to ON allows the moisture in your home to accumulate and reach mold-growing levels of humidity. Condensation forms in the coils and ducts as cool air circulates through the system, creating a habitat for moisture-loving mold. Mold in your air conditioner is very prevalent in homes, but diagnosing it and determining if its harmful can only be done by experts. Delays and neglect can turn out to be lethal. Mold will grow where there is moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or … MATERIALS AND TOOLS Available on Amazon – Screwdriver – Wet/dry vacuum with a nozzle attachment – Commercial AC coil cleaner –  Garden hose – Dish soap – Bleach – Large plastic bucket – Scrubbing sponge. If the unit had a malfunctioning fan the last time it was used, then mold can easily grow around the fan components. Use a nozzle attachment to get out as much as possible. How to Clean Mold & Mildew From AC Coils. For months now I've been waking up with a dry soar throat and having other symptoms that went away when I wasn't home. Once you’ve had mold in the air conditioner unit, there’s an increased risk that it will develop again despite your cleaning efforts. If you suspect mold is hiding in your AC vents, take quick action and follow these guidelines. Running fans on low helps circulate air to prevent it from being stagnant, but it does not help reduce humidity. If you find just a few traces of mold on the hard surfaces inside the unit, proceed with cleaning. Set the bottle to "spray" when you are done. Exposure to mold may experience an inflammatory response to the mold, especially if you already suffer from asthma, allergies, or a weakened immune system. There’s a risk of electric shock if you don’t cut the power correctly. This will allow air to circulate through the unit and reduce the risk of mold growing while you’re gone. Uncontrolled mold can lead to serious respiratory illness, eye irritation, and skin reactions. Its not common but it happens I see it at last once a year. And the truth is, if you have mold in your air conditioner, there is probably also mold in the HVAC ducts, since it's all connected. Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Mold spores thrive on moisture. Black mold on the AC coil is a solvable problem but it has to be done on time. ... Because humidity levels vary from day to day, the thermostat should have been left at or below 74 degrees, and the fan should have been set to "On." A UV light to remove AC mold is a painfully slow and ineffective way to treat mold. The water which accumulates attracts more dust than usual, and both the water and dust fuel mold growth within the air conditioner. How to prevent mold here: There are 2 steps to reducing the chance of mold in your air ducts: get rid of any signs of moisture and reduce the amount of dirt in the ducts.