Look through the list of symptoms and problems discussed above for some examples of what to look out for. The mold spores irritate and inflame the airway and lungs, causing coughing, sneezing, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma attacks, and other respiratory problems. The air conditioner’s energy efficiency will suffer because of this, and the cooling around the house may suffer as well. Central air conditioners don’t have this problem as long as the air filter is properly installed. Controlling mold in your central air conditioning system will prevent spreading these nasty spores throughout your home and your lungs! As an HVAC service tech and owner, I open indoor air handlers often for repairs and maintenance. Some individuals may develop asthma after prolonged exposure to mold. If your unit does begin to accumulate condensation, a dehumidifier could help. Emergency Air Conditioning Repair in Palm Beach County and Surrounding Area. Merely replacing the air conditioner in your central air system is not enough, as it’s entirely possible and even likely that mold has already spread through the HVAC ducts connected to the air conditioner by the time that mold has been discovered. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to mold include hives, rashes, and trouble breathing caused by swelling of the throat. It often travels through the duct network, infecting the HVAC system. It is an extremely common allergen, so unless you’re one of the lucky few who is not allergic, expect more responses. However, mold located in air conditioning units spreads spores out into the air throughout the house, which makes it especially dangerous and especially likely to cause sickness. To find out for certain, we recommend having a professional come in to test for mold. Cleaning different types of mold from a window AC unit is fairly simple, but for a central air conditioner, removal is a more complex job. The central air conditioner in my house has a bad odor coming from the air vents. What causes mold to form on air conditioning systems? The best way to be absolutely sure about whether or not you have a mold problem is to hire a professional to run individual tests in your home. 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. When mold grows within the central heating, cooling, and ventilation system, there are high chances that every room connected to the vents receives generous amounts of mold spores. Mold in your air conditioner is very prevalent in homes, but diagnosing it and determining if its harmful can only be done by experts. Mold is also, unfortunately, an issue for air conditioning … Leave on the Air Conditioning to Avoid Mold. Return From Mold In Air Conditioner To Our Mold In Ductwork Page, Privacy Policy Disclaimer Contact Us, Copyright 2020 www.mold-answers.com - All Rights Reserved. It probably does not surprise you to hear that mold in air conditioner systems can make you sick. Mold anywhere in your home can make you sick, of course. 2940 NW Commerce Park Dr #12, Boynton Beach, FL 33426, Products and Services: First, it's difficult to clean those window units adequately and in fact, it's usually cheaper to just buy a new air conditioner. You may also want to look for mold if you experience any sicknesses or other symptoms that could be connected to mold. What causes mold to form on air conditioning systems? The real danger of mold does not come from the impact on your HVAC system, but the effect on your health. If you’re looking for a professional to help you test for mold in your house, try to find individuals or companies who follow standards such as those created by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists or the American Industrial Hygiene Association. The mold smell problem started when the hot weather temperatures brought high humidity. As soon as you switch your heater or air conditioner on, the microscopic particles start floating and blowing out with air into the room. Discovering mold in the home sends many homeowners into a panic. Many licensed, bonded and insured air conditioning repair contractors are also certified to safely handle and remove mold, making such companies the perfect choice for mold removal. On hot summer days, we all need an air conditioner unit or two in our homes to keep us cool. Usually, these allergic reactions are relatively minor, but in some cases, they can be fatal. Its scientific name is stachybotrys chartarum, and while there are other strains of mold that produce mycotoxins, stachybotrys chartarum is probably the one about which we hear the most. You might suspect mold in your air conditioner if you notice a musty odor when the air conditioner is turned on. More times than not, I find mold. If there is mold on the air conditioner coils, mold spores can easily spread through the ducts in your ventilation system. Thanks for sharing. In North Florida I find mold tends to grow inside these air conditioner areas. Your furnace and evaporator coil have all the components necessary for things like mold to develop. If you’re using a standalone air conditioning unit in your window and discover mold in it, the solution is relatively simple, if a little spendy: Throw it out and buy a new one. Side effects of mold. A window unit isn't connected to your home's heating and ventilation ducts, though. Call us Any Time! Mold in window AC units. For deeper penetration the Fogmaster Mold Fogger is a Ultra Low Volume (ULV) fogger; which means it can shear the droplet size into tiny droplets. These air ducts are notorious for causing mold problems. On your air conditioner’s evaporator coil and drain pan. Mold growing in an AC unit or in your home’s HVAC system is a serious problem, because it allows mold spores to be spread throughout the house. Air conditioning mold needs to be removed as soon as possible, to protect your health and the health of your loved ones. An unusual or musty odor is often the first sign of mold in air ducts or in air vents. Your best bet with a central air system connected to HVAC is to contact a professional and let them remove the mold. by Resto Pros on June 3, 2016. The louvered metal grille that directs conditioned air from a duct into the room is called a register, and mold around an air conditioning register can have several causes: 1) If the cold air coming out of the register is too cold compared to the room air , condensate will form on the surface of the register and migrate over to the surrounding drywall. We are always available to get started for your needs. 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. An experienced professional will visit your home, inspect for mold, and advise you about the work that needs to be done. Or call us for immediate assistance. Things are a bit more complicated if you have central air. But did you realize that mold can also grow inside of air conditioning systems, spreading through the very air you breathe? However, an unpleasant or musty smell coming from your air conditioner has a direct impact on your mood. Ducts, ventilation shafts, and other less easily visible areas may hide mold. Finally, some forms of mold produce toxic substances called mycotoxins, exposure to which can cause numerous health problems. Home / How to get rid of mold / Air conditioners. If there is mold on the air conditioner coils, mold spores can easily spread through the ducts in your ventilation system. In the summer, a closed house with the air-conditioning turned off will have higher humidity levels than an air-conditioned home. Some individuals may develop asthma after prolonged exposure to mold. I often find mold on the exterior of air conditioning systems more often than the interior. Air Conditioner Mold. For more advice about mold removal, we suggest scheduling a free consultation with a mold remediation professional. Such a complicated job requires special tools in order to ensure that it’s done thoroughly and that the air conditioning and ventilation systems are not damaged. However, the inside of your unit can be a mold … So, effective removal requires cleaning all of those various components. Removing mold that has begun growing inside air vents can be a challenge. The key to effective treatment is to get the MoldSTAT deep into the system. If you think there might be mold in your air conditioner, you can look at the filter, the evaporator coils, and the other parts that are easily visible. Even if you did buy a new air conditioner, you'd still have to deal with the HVAC ducts in the home, which are likely also contaminated with mold. Exposure to mold may experience an inflammatory response to the mold, especially if you already suffer from asthma, allergies, or a weakened immune system. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends making sure that you choose an individual or professional who sticks with the NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association) standards when finding someone to help you remove mold from your home’s air conditioning unit.