If your home smells musty when you turn on the air conditioning, the cause may be mold growth inside the system. Mold can release spores that aggravate allergies, so actively preventing its development is essential for your family’s health. Here are a few ways to keep mold from forming inside your air conditioning system. 

3 Tips to Prevent Mold in the Air Conditioning System

1. Keep Outdoor & Indoor Air Intakes Clean 

Mold needs organic material, water, and air to grow. While air conditioning systems create water droplets through condensation and air constantly flows through the system, you can reduce mold levels by preventing organic materials from entering the air ducts. 

Keep outdoor AC condenser fins clear of dead leaves, weed growth, and insect activity by routinely spraying them down with clean water.

Indoors, replace air filters as soon as they look dirty, and wipe down wall-mounted systems. Remove vent covers to vacuum inside air vents, especially if they’re mounted on the floor. 

2. Maintain Drainage Pans 

When the AC pulls warm air over cooling coils, the condensation created drips down to a drainage pan, which has an outlet tube that routes the water outdoors or down to a floor drain. If drainage pans are dirty or have clogged outlets, mold can grow quickly. 

Use a wet/dry vacuum to remove water and organic material from drainage pans, and wipe the interior down with a disinfectant cleaner. If the drainage tube appears clogged, have an HVAC professional clear the clog or replace the part altogether. 

3. Apply Mold Inhibitors

To prevent mold growth, clean the cooling coils, drainage pan, air handler, and all other visible interior components with an HVAC mold inhibitor. These spray disinfectants are designed to block critical proteins mold needs to grow.

When you apply a mold inhibitor, wear an N-95 mask and ventilate the space thoroughly during and after the treatment. Follow the directions on the product label, or, better yet, hire an HVAC technician to conduct a thorough deep cleaning. 

If you have mold or other issues with your air conditioning system, turn to Purair Hawaii in Honolulu for help. For more than 35 years, this trusted local company has worked with homeowners to tackle HVAC and indoor air quality issues, including with air duct cleanings and mold remediation. For their outstanding customer service, they’ve been voted Hawaii’s best HVAC company in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Explore their services on their website, or schedule an appointment by calling (808) 589-2712.