Executive Summary
- Mold can grow in your air conditioner (A/C) unit due to dust and high humidity. The exposure risk for occupants increases when mold spores are dispersed throughout your home by the unit’s fans.
- If left uncontrolled, mold can cause health issues for anyone who comes into contact with it. It can cause several fever-like symptoms, such as sneezing and coughing.
- Mold growth can appear as fuzzy, slimy, or discolored patches on surfaces. Signs of mold in an A/C unit include musty odors, peeling wallpaper near vents, unexplained fever-like symptoms, and unusual pet behavior.
- If you suspect mold is growing in your A/C unit, immediately turn it off and stay away from its vents until a qualified environmental professional can perform a mold inspection and any necessary remediation services.
Learning What to Do if You Find Mold in Your Air Conditioner
Having mold in the air conditioner (A/C) of your home can affect indoor air quality (IAQ). If inhabitants come into contact with mold spores, they can experience adverse health effects. For example, black mold exposure may result in eye irritation, congestion, coughing, and sneezing. It may also exacerbate asthma symptoms and, in severe situations, lead to death or serious illness, making it crucial to address mold problems promptly.
High-humidity environments with limited sunlight can facilitate mold growth, rendering evaporator coils on A/C units the perfect breeding ground for mold spores. Indicators of mold growth can include musty smells, discolored spots, and fuzzy patches. If you discover mold in your A/C unit, turn it off immediately to prevent the spread of mold spores.
Avoid do-it-yourself (DIY) cleaning projects to minimize your risk of mold exposure. Instead, consult a trusted environmental professional to remediate mold and accurately test your IAQ.
Understanding the Health Risks of Mold in HVAC Systems
Mold spreads using microscopic spores that are invisible to the naked eye, so some people may be exposed to mold without knowing. More than a thousand different kinds of mold have been discovered in American houses, and they can cause varying responses in humans.
When people come into contact with most species of mold, they may experience a fever-like condition. Some examples of mold exposure symptoms are:
- Respiratory issues
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea.
Usually, mold does not cause severe ailments or death, but mold removal is still crucial to keep the property’s inhabitants safe.
Increased Risk for Certain Populations
Some people are at a higher risk of developing an illness from mold. Some examples of populations with a higher likelihood of getting sick from mold exposure are:
- Infants
- Toddlers
- School-aged children
- Elderly people
- Immune compromised people
- People with preexisting respiratory conditions like allergies or asthma
If any of your home’s inhabitants comprise one or more of the groups above, it is imperative to schedule a professional mold test to ensure your property is suitable and safe.
How Mold Can Grow in Your AC
Like most fungi, mold growth requires shaded environments with high moisture and organic material to feed on. Mold development is common in homes’ heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems because A/C units create cold surfaces that cause condensation, raising moisture levels and spurring mold and mildew development.
A/C units are also shielded from direct sunlight, which can otherwise combat mold growth. Moreover, dust and debris, including dead skin cells, can get trapped in HVAC systems, giving mold enough organic material to thrive. Due to these factors, mold has been found on the evaporator coils of countless A/C units. It is essential to schedule routine mold inspections that survey your home’s HVAC systems and other vulnerable areas.
How to Identify Mold in Your Air Conditioner
Mold spores usually range in size from 2 to 10 µm, requiring magnification to be detected visually. While individual mold spores are not easily seen, mold growth can eventually manifest as fuzzy, slimy, or discolored patches on surfaces like walls, floors, ceilings, and furniture.
Although you may be able to see mold patches on vents, it can be challenging to tell if mold is inside an HVAC system because it is usually enclosed. Some signs that can help you identify mold in your A/C unit are:
- Musty or stale odors coming from your HVAC system
- Peeling wallpaper, especially near vents attached to the A/C unit
- Unexplained fever-like symptoms in inhabitants
- Unusual behavior in pets
What Should I Do if I Suspect Mold in the A/C Unit
If you suspect mold growth inside your HVAC system, do not try to access the inside of the unit or remove the mold by yourself. DIY approaches can subject you to dangerous fungi like black mold. Instead, immediately turn off your A/C unit to eliminate the risk of spreading mold spores throughout the property.
Then, schedule professional-led mold testing services. If possible, vacate the premises while you wait for a qualified environmental remediation company to perform accurate tests that can ensure the safety of your home.
Keep Your Property Free from Mold
Mold poses risks to your health and property. Alpha Environmental provides expert remediation and removal to protect you and your home.
How to Prevent Mold Building Up in Your A/C Unit
Although mold remediation from an experienced environmental professional can help you address mold issues, it is best to avoid mold growth altogether by practicing prevention strategies. Some examples of practices that can help keep mold from building up in your A/C unit are:
- Schedule regular cleaning – By arranging routine cleanings of your HVAC system and its components, you can reduce the amount of dust and debris that mold feeds on, hindering its growth.
- Improving ventilation – By opening windows and installing fans that improve airflow throughout your home, you can lower the humidity levels and make it more challenging for mold to build up in your A/C unit.
- Using dehumidifiers – Dehumidifiers lower humidity by drawing air over a cooled coil and causing water vapor to condense into a liquid that is collected in a bucket. Removing moisture from the air can mitigate mold growth.
If possible, the indoor air relative humidity should be maintained at 50% by the air conditioner to increase your chances of preventing mold growth inside the HVAC system.
Monitoring Air Quality and Health
Even while taking the precautions mentioned above, it is still important to consistently monitor your IAQ and the respiratory health of the property’s inhabitants. Have an environmental professional test your air quality. Most professionals are equipped with cutting-edge technology like air sampling tools and hygrometers that calculate the humidity in each of your rooms, enabling them to assess the likelihood of mold growth in certain areas.
Contacting a Professional Mold Remediation Company
In addition to having access to specialized equipment that measures moisture levels, environmental professionals bring a high level of knowledge and experience that guarantees mold remediation is as quick and effective as possible.
Still, it is vital to choose a reputable environmental remediation team. Some tips for selecting the proper mold remediation service include:
- Check credentials – To ensure regulatory compliance, look into your prospective remediator’s licenses and certifications. In Oregon, contractors must be licensed by the Construction Contractors Board to do mold cleanup.
- Verify experience – Look through customer reviews and ask for references to find a mold remediation company with a successful track record.
- Obtain multiple quotes – Before selecting, compare remediation prices with those of other reliable contractors to ensure you get accurately valued services.
Relying on the expertise of a trustworthy environmental professional is an excellent way to promote safety and guarantee comprehensive mold remediation.
Why Choose Alpha Environmental Services
Dust and debris can mix with high humidity levels to generate mold in the air conditioner of your property, especially on or near the evaporator coils. The fans within the A/C unit can disperse mold spores throughout your home, increasing inhabitants’ risk of exposure.
When unchecked, mold can lead to health complications for exposed individuals, spurring several fever-like symptoms, including coughing and sneezing. Being proactive and having your HVAC system and the rest of your home inspected for mold can lead to early detection, which can mitigate health risks.
If your property is in greater Portland, Oregon, contact Alpha Environmental, a highly qualified environmental remediation team. Our specialists have substantial experience remediating various types of mold, including black mold. We can also perform IAQ tests and provide recommendations that can keep your home mold-free and as safe as possible.
Contact Alpha Environmental today to schedule an accurate mold inspection or remediation service.
