Exposure to mold in the home can cause serious health problems. One hidden place that mold can grow is within your air conditioner; with air constantly circulating through the unit into your home, mold spores are picked up and pushed into your living areas. Be watchful for signs that mold could be lurking in your AC, including a musty smell when the unit is running or visible mold on the exterior of the unit. If you notice these signs, the following steps will help you safely clean mold from your window air conditioner unit. Clean Mold from Your Window Air Conditioner: A Step By Step Guide Vacuum cleaner with attachments The following mold removal process should be performed in an area with good ventilation. Put on your safety gear (mask, eyewear, and gloves). Turn off the air conditioner and unplug the unit from its power source. Take off the front body grille of your unit. On most units, this can be done easily by pulling it forward and pushing down slightly.

If the grille is screwed in, use the screwdriver to remove the screws. Remove the filter that is located in the air conditioner’s front grille. (some of these filters are disposable, if – so, install a new one.) If your filter is washable, as most window unit’s filters are…place the filter in your sink and sprinkle it with laundry detergent. Fill the sink with enough hot water to cover the filter. Let the filter soak for 15 minutes. Next, use the scrub brush to clean both sides of the filter. Rinse out the filter with clean water and hang it to dry. Next, go back to your air conditioner unit and unscrew the metal cover located behind the front body grill and lift it directly upwards. Use the vacuum and attachments to clean out as much dirt and debris from the interior of the unit as possible. Wipe out any visible mold growth. In your bucket, mix a solution of ½ cup bleach, 1 tablespoon mild dish soap, and 3 gallons hot water. Using a cloth, brush, or sponge, soak up the solution and scrub the moldy areas of your air conditioner well.

Also clean the air conditioner front grille if that has mold on it. Allow the solution to sit on these surfaces for approximately 10 minutes, then rinse with water and a damp cloth. Let the unit, filter, grille, and metal cover dry completely.why is my window ac unit making noise Reassemble the air conditioning unit and plug back into its power source.central ac parts repair Click The Image Below To Download A One Page Printable PDF Guide for How To Clean Mold From Your Window Air Conditionerac window units online We hope this step by step guide on how to clean mold from your window air conditioner was helpful! For more information about air conditioning systems and maintenance procedures, check out our Complete Guide to Air Conditioning here!

It’s important to clean air conditioner filters in the AC unit in your home or office. Poorly maintained filters not only hurt the energy efficiency of your entire unit, but also greatly affect the quality of the air you breathe. You may be thinking that the severity of this is being overstated, but consider the actual structure and function of your air conditioner filters. Filters serve to keep the air conditioner components clean, and over a lifetime of heavy use, they accumulate a huge build up of dirt, pathogens, and allergens. A good cleaning is recommended at least twice a month and should be one that involves more than just running the filters under water. Here’s a simple guide to get your filters clean and help you maintain a healthy living environment. Make sure your air conditioner is turned off at the mains. Carefully remove the air conditioner components. You may have to use a screwdriver to dislodge fitted screws. Remove the filters from the air conditioner.

First and foremost, inspect them for any overt signs of wear and tear. If you spot any rips or snags, don’t even bother with the cleaning; you’re better off replacing the filters as continuing to use them when worn out will hamper efficiency. If your filters don't need to be replaced from tears, use a vacuum to get rid of any accumulated dirt and grime. Be as thorough as you can for effective cleaning results. Be careful however, as you do not want to puncture or tear the filter because, as stated above, tears render the filter inefficient. Fill a basin with equal portions of water and vinegar. Make sure that whatever vessel you use is large enough so that the filters will be totally submerged when placed inside. The vinegar will kill harmful bacteria and allergens that may have accumulated in the filters. Allow the filters adequate time to soak in the cleaning solution. If you have not cleaned the filters recently, leave them for about four hours to get properly sanitized.

However, if the filters have only been used moderately or have been recently cleaned, soak for one hour. Remove the air conditioning filters from the cleaning solution and allow the mixture to drain off. Do not rinse the filters because doing so will reverse the effects of the sanitizing process. You can place them onto an old, clean towel so that any excess solution is absorbed by the towel. Allow the filters to dry naturally while still on the towel. It is best to place the towel outside in the yard or wherever some sunshine is available to facilitate effective drying. Fit back the filters into the air conditioner and replace the air conditioner components. You can now enjoy cleaner, more breathable air.You'll need five tools to clean the evaporator coils on your AC unit: a screwdriver, a stiff brush, a large hand mirror, household bleach and wire. Once you have these tools, make sure you know where the evaporator coils are located. You'll find the evaporator for a central air system located directly above the furnace in the plenum (main duct).

Your AC unit may have a plenum that is sealed shut. If so, don't try to open it; it means you don't have an AC unit you can clean yourself. Assuming you can open your AC unit's plenum, the first thing you want to do is remove the foil-wrapped insulation at the front of the plenum. This insulation is likely taped in place, so remove this tape carefully. You will have to put it all back. Behind the insulation is an access plate. Take your screwdriver and remove the screws holding the plate in place. Once the screws are out, remove the access plate. How to Remove Glue Spots How to Remove Contact Cement Spots How to Remove Dirt and Mud Stains Now you should see the evaporator itself. Some can be slid out a bit, even if they have rigid pipes, but be careful as you do so. Use the stiff brush and hand mirror to clean out the underside of the evaporator unit. You'll also want to clean out the tray that sits below the evaporator. The tray is there to carry away condensation from the evaporator.