How to Prevent Mould Growth in Your Air conditioner

If you want to stay cool during summer, an air conditioner is an absolute blessing.

Many a homeowner knows the sigh of relief that comes from cool, fresh, conditioned air when the temperature is too hot and the indoors too sticky to be comfortable. 

However, like any other piece of home equipment, air conditioning systems need regular maintenance to perform at their best. In fact, if your air conditioner is suffering from efficiency issues, it is often because it needs better maintenance.

Peter Hackland, from Air Conditioning Cape Town, shares tips on how to maintain an air conditioning unit.

Mould and air conditioning  

You have no doubt heard about mould growing in homes. There are so many blogs out there these days talking about black mould and why you need to get rid of it.

So just what is black mould and why is it a problem for your air conditioner?

Mould refers to a kind of fungus. The patches of black, green or brown mould you see in your home are the different growth phases of mould and consist of a patch of tiny thread-like cells (called hyphae) all growing together.

Mould can grow just about anywhere if there is a water source and organic material such as paper, leather or drywall that it can use as food. Unfortunately, this makes air conditioning systems an ideal breeding ground for mould spores. There is plenty of moisture, dirt and debris in the air conditioner to act as a food source. 

Mould that grows inside the air-conditioning system can be blown out of the vents and travel throughout your home. If they find another place to settle and grow, they will start a new colony. 

You can’t get rid of mould, but you can prevent it

There is a lot of information out there about getting rid of mould. Unfortunately, much of this is false.

The truth is, you cannot get rid of mould. This is because the tiny microscopic spores are omnipresent throughout nature. The visible patches of mould you see release new spores all the time, and those spores can travel throughout your home and set up new colonies anywhere they find food and moisture.

However, do not worry quite yet. Although you cannot technically eradicate mould, there are steps you can take to prevent it from growing in your home.

As mould exposure carries with it some health risks, it’s best to prevent it from growing in your air conditioner.

How to prevent mould from growing in your air conditioner

 This is a straightforward process…

 1. Clean and maintain the drain pans

If drain pans are dirty or don’t drain properly, mould has an ideal place in which to grow. Make sure the drain pans on the system are positioned to drain properly at all times. Inspect them regularly to make sure there is no build-up of water or debris.

2. Replace the filters regularly

Old or dirty filters don’t trap particles as efficiently. That means that mould particles can spread inside the system and grow colonies.

Even worse, it means the mould particles can escape the filter and spread throughout your home.

Replace filters once a month and make sure you use the correct filter type for your system. Filters should fit snugly with no gaps around them.

3. Make sure ducts are clean and dry

Wet or dirty ducts within your system provide an ideal breeding ground for mould. Prevent fungal growth inside the system with regular duct checks to be sure they are clean and dry.

Clean them if necessary.

If you notice water pooling in the ducts, dry them and isolate the source of the water so you can prevent it recurring. Replace any water damaged components as soon as possible.

4. Check the air intakes

Air intakes can introduce microbes and debris into your air conditioning system, which then provides food for mould to grow.

Check for organic compounds near the air intakes. These include standing water, bird droppings, dirt, disturbed earth or rubbish in bins. Remove or clean away sources of contamination to keep air intakes free of microbes.

5. Call a mould inspector

There are many mould inspection and remediation companies that specialise in looking for and cleaning up mould. If you need a little extra help inspecting and cleaning your air conditioning system, don’t hesitate to call in a professional. 

Make air conditioning maintenance a regular part of your household maintenance tasks. Put a note in your calendar to carry out a monthly inspection and carry out any necessary cleaning or repairs.

Your system will run more efficiently and there will be much less risk of mould growth. 

Article courtesy of Property24