You rely on your air conditioner to keep your living space cool and comfortable when the temperatures outside become unbearable. However, in addition to providing relief from the heat, it also plays a key role in protecting your home and family from toxic mold growth. When there’s excessive moisture in your indoor air, it creates the perfect conditions for mold to develop, which can cause costly damages and respiratory problems. Here are a few tips on how to properly use your AC system to prevent mold.

How Can You Use the Air Conditioner to Help With Mold Prevention?

1. Regulate Humidity Levels

Mold prefers damp, humid environments and stagnant air. By running your air conditioner consistently, you can eliminate all of these conditions. It will keep cool air flowing from room to room and remove moisture from different areas in the process. This helps control your home’s humidity levels and ensures it’s well ventilated to combat mold growth.

2. Install UV Light 

HVAC UV lights are specially designed to kill mold spores before they enter your home. They can be particularly beneficial if someone in your household suffers from asthma, allergies, or other breathing difficulties. An HVAC technician can install the light near the AC system’s coils, which is where condensation typically forms, so it prevents mold from infiltrating any of the air that passes through.

3. Auto Thermostat Setting

Switching your air conditioner’s fan setting to “auto,” instead of “on,” is another step you can take towards mold prevention. If the fan is running continuously, it doesn’t allow time for the moisture on the evaporator coils to drain. In turn, it will get blown back into your house, resulting in higher humidity levels.

4. Choose Right Equipment

It’s also essential to make sure your home is equipped with a suitable AC system. This requires having the right size air conditioner with a SEER rating of at least 14. For example, oversized units will have a shorter running cycle, which won’t give it enough time to efficiently dehumidify your living space. If your unit has a higher SEER rating, this typically indicates it has an enhanced moisture removal feature.

To effectively defend your home against mold growth, your air conditioner must be kept in good working order. The professionals at Richmond Hill Air Conditioning in Bryan County, GA, can provide the maintenance your system needs to run at peak performance. For more than 30 years, they’ve remained dedicated to delivering quality HVAC services that help improve indoor comfort and promote a healthier living environment. Call (912) 756-2288 to schedule an AC tune-up, or visit them online for more information about what they offer.