As unlikely it may seem, mold tends to grow inside ACs that aren’t in use.
It builds up during the winter and early spring which makes your air moldy during the summers. Your AC can also get moldy because of leaks in the unit’s condenser.
As soon as you notice a moldy smell coming from your air conditioning system, it’s time to clean it. Here are some recommendations for getting rid of mold inside an AC.
Get Rid of Mold Inside Your Air Conditioner
#1: Shut Off the Power Supply to Prevent Electrocution
To conduct this process safely, you need to shut off and unplug the power supply tubes that provide electricity to your air conditioner.
If you don’t do so, there is an increased chance of electrocution and other types of dangers while you work on the system. To do this effectively, follow these steps:
Unplug the power cord of the unit that supplies electricity to your AC.
Open all windows in your house so they can get some fresh air while you clean up the mold inside your AC.
If there’s a fuse box near your AC, turn off the main electricity supply and pull out any fuses that apply to it. If not, find the wires connected to your air conditioner and switch them off at their source points.
#2: Open Up Your Air Conditioner’s Box Cover
Once you have turned off the power supply, you will need to open up the wiring panel where it connects with other parts of your home’s electrical system.
Look for its cover and remove it after switching off all mechanisms that may be attached to the panel.
#3: Check the Condenser and Evaporator Coils for Leaks
To determine if any of your AC’s components have developed leaks, you will need to get behind the unit from its backside. Remove the protective grill to do so and then look inside it.
Look for condenser or evaporator coils that leak water as well and fix them before proceeding with other cleaning methods described below if you find any of these.
#4: Clean All Parts of Your Air Conditioner with Baking Soda
Once you are ready to begin removing mold on your own, start by wearing non-porous gloves and putting on a safety mask too.
Make sure the power supply has been cut off as mentioned above in Step 1.
#5: Use a Siphon Vacuum to Remove All Dirt and Dust from Your AC’s Coils
Now you are ready to start the mold removal process itself. To do so, use a vacuum with a siphon hose that can extract powdery dirt like dust or sand out of your system.
It’s best if you vacuum all sides of each component including the condenser and evaporator coils too. While this may cause a foul odor when you begin cleaning, it will soon go away after vacuuming is complete.
Here are some additional tips for keeping your air conditioner clean while preventing mold from growing in it in future: Allow sunlight inside your home regularly as it helps kill mold spores themselves and prevent their growth in your AC.
#7: Wash the Entire Unit with Water and Isopropyl Alcohol
In order to disinfect your air conditioner, you will need to use a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol.
Mix equal quantities of both liquids in a bucket and pour it all over the unit’s condenser and evaporator coils, as well as other plastic or metallic parts that aren’t covered by protective grills.
Wipe off any dirt or dust left behind using a clean cloth after washing is complete.
For this part, be sure not to leave any pools of water inside your system before turning on the power supply again because doing so may cause short circuits.
#8: Restore Your Exterior Air Conditioner Unit’s Appearance
Once you have followed all the steps outlined above, it’s time to restore your AC’s appearance.
To do so, wipe off any detergent or washing powder from its exterior using a damp cloth and dry the surface with another one after that. Now put back in place any grills that were removed earlier while ensuring they are placed correctly.
You can then use a vacuum cleaner to clean up any visible dirt left behind on the unit’s front part.
After doing so, turn your home’s electricity supply back on and fix fuses or replace them according to their respective circuit if you had pulled them out earlier as suggested in Step 1.
#9: Clean grills and all diffusers.
#10: Put Your Air Conditioner Back in Place
If you have one, you should now place your indoor unit back in its original position, provided it was placed there earlier and never moved since then.
If this is not feasible due to space constraints or other reasons, placing it as closely as possible to where it was before may also help reduce the chances of mold growing inside again.
You can also use an air conditioner weather cover for added protection from mold and mildew if desired.
#11: Add a Dehumidifier to Help Prevent Mold Growth
Now that you have cleaned your air conditioner completely and prevented mold from growing inside it in future, make sure you set up a dehumidifier to help reduce the humidity levels in your home indoors .
This is because excessive moisture is one of the most common reasons for mold growth around homes today especially when you live in an area with high relative humidity like Florida or Louisiana where I do.
There are many different types of these devices available on the market but here are three options I recommend that can work well even if used by themselves:
#12: Put Back Your Air Conditioner’s Filters
After you have finished cleaning your air conditioner as outlined in this article, you should put back the filters that were removed earlier.
While doing so, make sure they are placed correctly and not too tightly as dust or other debris may accumulate inside them when they are placed back without being cleaned first adequately.
You can even use a vacuum cleaner on each side of these filters after putting them back to remove any loose dirt left behind if necessary.
#13: Turn On Your AC and Enjoy Clean, Odor-Free Air
Now that you know how to prevent mold growth inside an air conditioner , it’s time to start enjoying clean, bacteria-free indoor air by running your AC.
Remember to keep all its parts clean and mold-free in future for reliable performance of this device that helps prevent illness and other problems in homes today.