Is Your A/C Spreading Mold throughout your House?

Most people expect to find mold in old carpets and basements and nearby leaky roofs. But could mold be hiding in your HVAC systems?

How Air Conditioning Mold Affects Your Health

Mold growing in your heating and air conditioning units can spread through your house every time you turn it on. Mold and other indoor air pollutants that hide in air conditioners can cause allergic reactions and even respiratory disorders.

Certain strains of mold can actually release mycotoxins that can lead to bleeding in the lungs and pneumonia. Any mold in your home is dangerous, but mold spores in the air are dangerously easy to inhale, especially for young children and elderly people.

How to Keep Mold From Growing in your A/C

Air conditioning mold can often be detected by musty smells in rooms with no visual mold present. If you can get to your ductwork, you may be able to spot the mold yourself, or have a home air conditioning repair worker or mold specialist check for you.

• Keeping your air conditioning ducts clean of substances like dirt, debris, and especially organic matter is one of the best ways you can prevent mold growth.
• Checking on the condensation levels in your HVAC device is important. A little moisture is fine, but standing water creates a perfect breeding ground for mold. You may have to call home air conditioning repair services to find out where the excess water is coming from.
• You should also change your HVAC filter once every three months, at a minimum. This will cut down on spores as well as other allergens like dust and dirt that may be invading your air.

Cleaning Up Mold in you A/C Unit

You may be able to clean up mold yourself, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doesn’t recommend it, especially since you could expose yourself and your family to dangerous toxic spores. Calling a home air conditioning repair business or a mold removal specialist is usually the best way to deal with the problem. Both will have better tools to access your systems and can often repair the issue that led to mold growth in the first place.

An HVAC system can last from 12-15 years with proper maintenance. Cut down on mold and get the most out of your system.

Author: Carolyn Willbanks