How To Get Rid Of Black Mold On Styrofoam In Air Conditioner
Every air conditioner is supposed to have EPS in it, acting as insulation as well as a filter so you cant go without it. With that in mind, in cases of high humidity in the air, mold growth can become quite a serious issue.
Most of the time, styrofoam is mold-resistant but occasionally, mold may grow on it as well.
To get rid of mold, you will either have to clean it or replace the styrofoam altogether.
This article will teach you how to eliminate mold on Styrofoam in air conditioner and prevent future growth.
Keep The Ac Always On As Much As Possible
It may sound a little impractical, financially speaking. But turning your AC on can help against mold growth.
When your AC is not on, moisture will soon build up within the house. The temperature inside may rise, and the air would be stale. All these factors favor the growth of mold, but your AC can keep them all out. Of course, thats only possible if it stays on.
So, do you really just leave it on? Yes, but turn it into auto mode. This function will cycle the air inside and keep it in optimal conditions.
Getting Rid Of Damp And Mould
The Problem
When you switch on the air conditioning in your car, instead of getting clean smelling, cool air, there is the smell of dampness and mould.
Things to Check
If you have already made sure that all the mechanical components of the air conditioner are working well, the source of the damp smell could actually come about because the air conditioner is working too efficiently.
In Singaporeâs humid atmosphere, the cold air conditioned air does tend to cause a lot of condensation, especially within the ducts that channel the air to the face-level air vents on the dashboard. This happens more on rainy days and while driving at night as the sun isnât around to cause this moisture to evaporate. After a while, the moisture will accumulate and sometimes mould will form, causing all the air that is blown across it to carry the smell into the passenger compartment.
What To Do
AA Singapore
AA Singapore is the leading motoring association in Singapore, providing roadside assistance services, lifestyle benefits and privileges to members.
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What Causes Black Mold In Air Conditioners
Even if you invest in the best window air conditioner, the unit can develop mold if its unused for an extended period of time.
Over the winter months, for example, dust can collect inside the vents. With the right amount of humidity, mold can begin to grow, feeding on particles of dust. You likely wouldnt notice the air conditioners black mold problem until you turn the unit on in the warmer months and a mildew odor fills the room.
Its also possible for mold to develop if theres a leak in the condenser or evaporator coil and moisture persists inside the unit. Plus, a dirty filter can serve as a food source for mold, accelerating the growth. Many units have a check filter light that indicates when cleaning is needed. You may also refer to your users manual for best practices on keeping the filter clean.
How To Eliminate Odor From A Car Air Conditioner
This article was co-authored by Tom Eisenberg. Tom Eisenberg is the Owner and General Manager of West Coast Tires & Service in Los Angeles, California, a family-owned AAA-approved and certified auto shop. Tom has over 10 years of experience in the auto industry. Modern Tire Dealer Magazine voted his shop one of the Best 10 Operations in the Country.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 90% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 200,454 times.
If there is an odd, moldy smell that kicks in as soon as you turn your air conditioning on, you donât have to close your nose and bear it. More likely than not, youâve built up some mold and mildew thanks to moisture in your AC system. This moisture occurs naturally, and is part of the car, but if left for too long it can create mold. As air pumps past the evaporator and into the car, it picks up mold spores, which feed on the moisture. Luckily, they are easy to clean, and your car will smell good as new.
Note: This article deals with AC odors, which are moldy, mildewy smells For burning or chemically smells, take your car to a dealer immediately.XResearch source
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Let The Unit Dry And Reassemble
Before you put everything back together, you need to let the unit dry completely. This can take up to 24 hours, so give yourself some time to do this. This is why you should do this before it starts getting hot out because you will be without your AC for a while. Once the unit is dry and there is no longer any mold, you can reassemble the unit and put the grille back on with your new, clean filter. Plug it back into a power source so that you can enjoy clean, cold air all summer long.
Avoid Moisture Like The Plague
Mold and water go together like hiking and Camelback Mountain. Humidity control is a simple approach to avoid excess wetness. When its hot outside, its best not to leave the air conditioner running for long periods of time . Doing this tends to cause the unit to become filled with warm, damp air. Opt instead for auto mode for your air conditioner.
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Mold Removal Safety Tips
You wont know the full extent of the mold growth in your unit unless you remove it from the window. Grab some help to safely remove the AC and place it in a sturdy spot for cleaning, like the garage or outdoor work bench. Its best to remove the mold from air conditioner parts outdoors so you have plenty of fresh air to combat the mold and any fumes from the cleaner.
Let Your Air Conditioner Dry For A Few Hours Before Reassembling It
Turning on the air conditioner only after spraying and washing is recommended by some experts. Just in case the electrical components became wet, its a good idea to let them air dry for a little while.
Check read our upcoming posts on Different Types of Hot Water Tanks and How to Remove Nitrate from Well Water for more information on air conditioning and water filtering.
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Dust Off The Fins And Coils
Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get inside your AC unit. You don’t need to dust the fins and coils every time you clean your air conditioner, but most manufacturers recommend doing it quarterly or semiannually.
First, take a fin comb or soft-bristle brush and gently comb the aluminum fins inside your AC. Take your time during this process because the fins bend easily and can be sharp. If you notice any bent fins, softly move them back into place.
Next, spray your can of condensed air inside the unit to dust off the coils. You should be as thorough as possible to remove any debris that could be preventing your appliance from working correctly.
Weekly And Monthly Cleaning
When you clean a window air conditioner weekly or monthly, you primarily need to clean the filter since it gets dirty more often. Therefore, the process of cleaning is less complicated. How frequently you will perform filter cleaning will depend on many factors.
There is an instruction for cleaning every AC, and you should read where to look for the air filter before starting the job. You can also see if the filter is washable or you need to change it.
If your filter is washable, you will need to turn off a window air conditioner first. Then, take out the filter, spray it with water and dish soap, and rinse it thoroughly. Leave it to dry and avoid turning on the AC until the filter becomes completely dry.
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Wait For The Air Conditioner Unit To Fully Dry And Reassemble
Now that youve cleaned the filter and interior of your air conditioning unit, wait for the unit to fully dry by leaving it in a cool, dry place. This can take up to 24 hours. Then, reassemble the unit in the same way you disassembled it earlier, taking care to replace the frame and screws in the same manner you removed them above. Any odor should be greatly reduced or eliminated. However, as mentioned above, if the mold starts to regrow, you likely have mold deep in the air conditioner and will need to replace the unit altogether.
Stephen Marks
How To Prevent Mold In A Window Air Conditioner
A mold inhibitor will go a long way towards helping you avoid mold buildup. Here are some additional tips on how to prevent mold in a window air conditioner.
Avoid Moisture Like The Plague
Moisture and mold go together like Camelback Mountain and hiking. One easy way to avoid excess moisture is to get an air conditioner that incorporates humidity control. You should also avoid leaving the air conditioner off for extended periods during the summer months . When you do this, warm, moist air tends to build up inside the unit. Rather, set your air conditioner to run on auto.
Have Your Air Conditioner Serviced Regularly
In this post, we discussed the importance of having your air conditioner looked at by a professional twice annually. This will help you stay ahead of the curve on any issues that may be coming down the pipeline. Some of these issues, such as excess condensation or leaking, could lead to mold down the line.
Our air conditioning services in Phoenix are designed to help you pinpoint and deal with these issues promptly.
Clean Your Air Conditioner Regularly
Keeping your air conditioner free of dust and debris will rob mold spores of their fuel. The best way to do that? By cleaning your air conditioner regularly instead of simply performing one deep clean every few months. In the next section, well look at the steps you should take.
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Clean The Condenser Coils
The backside of the unit has a covering that you can take off as well. This covering protects the unit from weather elements but does need cleaning. Underneath the covering is the condenser coils.
Spraying the concoction of water and detergent can clean them. This will allow the grime to run off. Some people use a hose to spray it but it is better to use detergent to clean it more effectively. Once you do that, let this area dry.
How To Prevent Window A/c Units From Molding
Mold appears as the result of a damp environment. If your window A/C unit has mold on it, that means you’re at risk for health problems and a costly replacement.
To fix this problem, Warner Service is offering some expert prevention tips:
Buy a unit with humidity control. Many window A/C units come with a humidity control option. This option allows the air conditioning unit to control the level of humidity in the air, automatically discouraging the growth of mold.
Use auto mode. When you leave for family vacation, dont turn your unit off. This leaves your home without airflow, causing moisture to build up without circulation and temperatures to rise without an active cooling system. Warm, moist, and stale air is the perfect environment for mold to grow.
Instead, use the auto function on your air conditioning unit. This will continuously cycle the air in your home while youre away for a long period of time.
Perform regular maintenance. HVAC maintenance is so important, especially during the shift in seasons. It allows your heating and cooling system to prepare for the change in weather before its too late.
Because window A/C units are dark and warm on the inside, it’s a great mold breeding ground. Preventing this requires basic HVAC maintenance, including checking it regularly and carefully cleaning any sign of water or formed mold.
How To Tell If Your Unit Has Mold
How To Clean A/C Unit Mold
Licensing Info
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Get Rid Of Visible Mold
Mix a bucket of warm water with ½ cup of bleach. Soak a scrubbing sponge in the solution and use it to wipe off the mold in the inside areas of the unit. The bleach will be strong enough to remove the residual mold buildup.
To prevent your unit from becoming a breeding ground for mold, make sure to learn how to clean mold on the air conditioner coils . You can use a commercial coil cleaner and let it sit for a while to completely remove any remaining dirt and mold.
When all is done, leave the air conditioning unit to dry completely. After a day or so, you may start reassembling the unit and reinstalling it back at your window.
Now you have a window air conditioner free from mold! You just have to take note on how to prevent mold growth in your AC.
Use Fan Mode To Dry The Inside Of The Ac
Some window ACs have a fan option. However, the compressor wont turn on to transfer heat, so the fan will blow. Once youve cooled down the room, turn on fan mode.
This will dry out your AC unit, which could cause it to fail. And since the EPA reminds us that moisture management is the key to mold control, you should probably take care of that before it gets too bad.
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Is Mold In A Window Air Conditioner Dangerous
Moist conditions mixed with dirt and dust lead to the growth of mold. Where there is a lot of rain and humidity, this is a regular problem.
tears in the eyes
coughing up a dry spit
skin rashes are a common problem
a whistling sound
Its easier for the mold in your air conditioner to get into your respiratory system while its flying through the air.
Never Breathe In Unhealthy Air
When you discover mold inside your AC unit, you should clean it right away. You definitely do not want to turn the unit on for any period of time. You will only spread the mold to other areas of the house. You especially need to be careful of black mold in an air conditioner. This is a toxic substance that leads to even worse respiratory issues. Prolonged exposure to black mold can lead to chronic nausea, bleeding in the nose, and vomiting.
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Supplies Youll Need For Getting Rid Of Mold In A Window Air Conditioner
Is Black Mold In Your Ac Vents Dangerous
The most straightforward answer to this question is yes, this type of mold is quite dangerous. The moisture inside the AC vents is responsible for this type of mold growth.
Black mold on AC vents comes with a lot of health complications, making it hazardous. Its mostly linked to respiratory-related complications.
Breathing in spores from black mold can make one experience the following health issues.
- Irritated Eyes, Nose or throat
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Prevent & Decon Mold In Your Car & Ac
January 8, 2020 by Corinne
This article covers the sources of mold growth in vehicles AC system, high humidity storage, spills, leaks, and design malfunctions and how to prevent them.
I go into detail on the four methods used to clean the HVAC system out, as well as methods to clean mold and cross-contamination in the vehicle as a whole.
The AC is usually the most difficult area in the vehicle to manage microbial growth. While there are certain makes and models of vehicles where this is more of an issue, to some degree its a problem in all vehicles due to the inherent design of the AC system.
This post contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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