Are you worried about mold growth inside your air conditioner? It’s a valid concern, and we have some tips to help you prevent mold from growing both in your air conditioner and around your home in general.
You can keep reading to learn more about the steps you can take to lessen the likelihood of a mold infestation developing in your air conditioner. Then give our team a call if you have any HVAC concerns or want to invest in a central AC replacement in Vincennes, IN. Our team is here to help with all of your HVAC needs, big and small.
Balanced Humidity Levels
One of the top things you can do to help lessen the chances of mold growing in your air conditioner is to maintain a healthy level of humidity in your house. If you’re not sure whether or not your home has high humidity levels, you can purchase a hygrometer to measure the moisture in the air of your home to see what percentage the humidity is.
Anywhere between 30% and 50% is considered healthy. Higher humidity levels increase the likelihood of mold growth. Moisture from humidity can gather in dark places around your home where mold can easily thrive. If your home’s humidity is too high, we can recommend a whole house dehumidifier.
Maximize Airflow
It’s equally important to maximize the airflow that leads into and away from your air conditioner. You can do this by changing out the air filter on time each month before it gets too dirty. A clogged filter can prevent air from making it into the air conditioner for adequate cooling.
At the same time, you want to make sure that your AC has good airflow away from the system so that heat can escape via the outdoor unit. You can do this by rinsing off the outdoor unit with your water hose set to gentle water pressure at least once each month. When airflow can move freely, your air conditioner has a better chance of preventing a mold infestation.
Prevent Leaks
You can also prevent leaks so that there isn’t extra moisture buildup inside of your air conditioner. To do this, you want to rinse out your condensate drain line once each month using vinegar. Vinegar helps to destroy mold spores and also flush away dust that contributes to clogs.
If a clog forms in the condensate drain line, moisture will back up into your house, ultimately making the air more humid and increasing the likelihood of mold growth. Plus, leaking water can leave water damage behind to the surrounding areas of your home and even your air conditioner. Pouring half a cup of vinegar into the drain line each month is a great way to keep the condensate drain line clear so the water can drain outside of your home.
Schedule Regular Maintenance
When our team has a chance to work on your air conditioner consistently over its lifetime, we can take steps to help you prevent lots of AC problems, including mold growth. Our team can check the unit for early signs of mold, including moisture buildup.
We can also help you take steps to keep your air conditioner running at its best so that regular operation isn’t contributing to any problems. Our goal is to help you identify problems early so that we can address them before you even realize anything is wrong.
Contact Benner Heating & Air for all your heating and cooling needs. It’s Better with Benner.