How to Kill Mold & Fungus in an AC Unit
Air conditioning units are our best friends during the hot days of the summer. They circulate the air by pulling hot humid air out and replacing it with cool, fresh air. On the downside, the circulation of air also circulates dust, hair and even mold spores. Unfortunately, battling mold will require some regular maintenance, but, on the bright side, it is relatively simple process. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Ozone generator
- Screwdriver
- Bristle brush
- Vacuum or compressed air
- Cleaning solution
Instructions
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Killing Mold and Fungus
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1
Set up an ozone generator near where the AC takes in air. The ozone generator should be as high as, or higher than, the AC intake so that the AC will pull the ozone through it. Ozone can kill mold and can get to places that solid tools cannot. The ozone generator should be used at its highest setting for a few hours.
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Make the air in the area as dry as possible. This can be done by running bathroom vent fans, avoiding the use of humidifiers, or by using a dehumidifier in the room.
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Turn the AC on and let it run. This will also help dry out the room, so you may not need to use the other air drying methods.
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Once the ozone generator has done its job, turn it off and vent the area for a few more hours. People, pets and plants should not be in the area for extended periods of time during and shortly after ozone treatment.
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Remove the grill work on the AC unit itself. This may be as simple as snapping the grill off, but some designs may require a screwdriver.
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Use a vacuum hose to go over the coils. This will remove loose dust particles and any other debris that may cause more mold to grow.
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Spray the coils with a cleaning solution and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Go over the coils with a bristle brush, lightly dragging it back and forth to clean the coils. Don't bear down too hard, as the coils may bend.
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Clean the coils and surface of the AC unit at least once every three months to keep mold from coming back. This is also a good time to wash or replace the filter, which is generally located behind the grill that covers the AC coils.
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Tips & Warnings
Most cleaning solutions will be safe to use. Detergent or bleach are often recommended.
If you are using this for a central AC unit, you may need to hire a professional duct cleaning service for this to be effective. If the areas where mold has been aren't cleaned, it will generally come back sooner and spread back into the areas you already cleaned.
Ozone generators can be purchased or rented from air purification stores.
If the air around you starts to smell acidic, or like bleach, then too much ozone is leaking from the room the ozone treatment is in. You should stop the ozone generator and seek fresh air if this happens.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
