Modesto, CA has an arid climate, but the region’s hot, dry summers don’t always protect air conditioners from mold. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mold spores flourish whenever indoor humidity rises above 60%. Steamy cooking projects, insufficient AC maintenance, and busy, high-traffic living environments create the perfect conditions for mold. Once mold infests your air conditioner, your HVAC system could circulate it indefinitely. Fortunately, there are 10 easy ways to prevent mold growth in your AC.
1. Regularly Check and Change Your HVAC Air Filter
Air conditioners regulate indoor temperature and humidity. They do so by drawing warm indoor air in and extracting its heat and moisture. All of the air that enters your AC passes through its air filter.
If your HVAC air filter has heavy buildups of debris, airflow throughout your cooling system will decline. Filter-related problems like short-cycling and overheating inhibit humidity extraction. This can leave your home feeling muggy or clammy. It can also raise your indoor humidity above 60% and create problems with mold, mildew, and rank, musty odors.
How Often Should You Replace Your Air Filter?
The general recommendation for air filter replacement is once every one to three months. However, you should always inspect your air filter every 30 days. You can do so by holding it up to the overhead light. When light can no longer pass through the collected debris on the filter mesh, air can no longer move through it either.
2. Keep Your HVAC Air Vents Open
Closing air vents is a popular way to redirect conditioned air when people no longer want or need it in their immediate areas. Despite its popularity, this DIY zoning technique is detrimental to air conditioners. Closing air vents creates a sharp rise in in-duct static pressure.
With nowhere to go, conditioned air builds up in your ductwork and decreases airflow. As with dirty air filters, this change in airflow can impact humidity regulation and overall AC performance.
Make sure that every air vent in your home is open or at least partially open. You can also have our team optimize vent positions with air balancing service. With better airflow and less indoor moisture, you’ll have a much easier time keeping mold infestations at bay.
3. Ventilate Your Home
The “V” in HVAC is the most overlooked component in indoor climate control. Good ventilation allows for natural air exchange, whereby trapped contaminants flow outdoors and fresh air flows in. Unfortunately, in an effort to create efficient home envelopes, some homeowners have made their living spaces overly airtight. The result is more airborne particulates and trapped humidity. Together, these things create a greater risk of mildew and mold.
You can add new mechanical ventilation to your home to improve natural air exchange. You should also clean your existing mechanical ventilation to support its performance. You can reduce moisture and airborne pollution by regularly cleaning your:
- Range hood vent
- Furnace exhaust vent
- Dryer vent
- Bathroom exhaust vents
4. Inspect, Seal, and Clean Your HVAC Air Ducts
Dirty and leaky air ducts also contribute to mold formation. Leaky air ducts take in unfiltered air from dusty, remote areas like crawlspaces, attics, and basements. Mold, bacteria, and other pathogens feed on these particulates. They also thrive in the excess moisture created by poor HVAC airflow.
Air duct sealing service will prevent conditioned air from escaping and keep out unfiltered air and the particulate matter it contains. For best results, you can schedule regular duct inspections and regular air duct cleaning service. You should have your HVAC air ducts inspected and tested for air leaks at least once annually. As per the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, the best schedule for professional air duct cleaning is once every three to five years.
5. Schedule Annual AC Maintenance
Regularly replacing your HVAC air filter is one of the most important parts of cooling system maintenance. However, there are many other critical tasks that only a licensed HVAC company can handle. These include:
- Refrigerant level testing
- As-needed recharge service
- Airflow testing and optimization
- Condensate drain and drain line cleaning
- Comprehensive evaporator and condenser coil cleaning
Your air conditioner’s condensate drain and drain line route extracted moisture out of the building. During the offseason, these components can develop heavy buildups of algae, bacteria, and mold. HVAC technicians clean and disinfect condensate drains to eliminate these buildups and prevent problems like foul odors, fast-spreading mold.
6. Stay on Top of Heater Maintenance
Your air conditioner and heating system share the same ducting. If your furnace has heavy buildups of debris, trapped mold, or other mold-related problems, these issues will eventually impact your AC. To keep your entire HVAC system healthy and mold-free, schedule professional heater maintenance each year.
7. Maintain Adequate Clearance Around the Condenser Unit
Ensure optimum airflow throughout your cooling system by keeping the perimeter of your air conditioner’s condenser clear. Outdoor condenser units need no less than 24 inches of clearance on every side.
During spring and summer, you should cut back all nearby shrubs, bushes, grass, and trees. Regularly inspect the perimeter of your condenser and remove all loose, windblown debris. You can do this once every 30 days when performing your monthly filter inspections.
8. Consider Integrated HVAC Accessories
If you have lots of people living in your home, you likely have higher-than-normal humidity. With multiple people taking hot, steamy baths or showers and cooking in your kitchen, your home could feel muggy or clammy even when your AC is on. One very effective way to combat the excess moisture that residents add to your air is by installing a whole-house dehumidifier.
You can determine whether a whole-house dehumidifier is right for you by scheduling indoor air quality (IAQ) testing. IAQ testing measures indoor humidity. It also identifies and quantifies airborne allergens and contaminants. Based on your IAQ test results, our team can recommend an integrated HVAC system accessory to improve your IAQ. Installed on or in HVAC air ducts, these supplementary appliances support effective humidity regulation and reduce airborne contaminants.
9. Install a Smart Thermostat
You can monitor your IAQ and your indoor humidity by installing a smart thermostat. Many smart thermostats send out regular IAQ alerts and HVAC performance alerts. With a smart thermostat, you can identify humidity problems and other IAQ concerns before they escalate and create the conditions for mold.
10. Replace Your Old AC
As they age, air conditioners become increasingly less effective in regulating temperature and humidity. Age-related wear can also lead to refrigerant leaks, coil damage, condensate drain buildups, and other issues that add moisture to the air. The average lifespan of a residential AC is 15 to 20 years. If your air conditioner has already supplied two decades of service, scheduling an AC replacement will protect your IAQ and limit your risk of mold.
Since 2009, Loves Air has proudly served Modesto and the surrounding communities with expert AC maintenance, replacement, and repair services. As a Better Business Bureau (BBB)-accredited company, we maintain an A+ BBB rating. We also maintain a talented team of NATE-certified technicians.
To help locals save on AC maintenance, we offer a high-value and benefits-rich HVAC preventative maintenance plan. For mold prevention and healthy IAQ, we also provide cutting-edge indoor air quality improvements. If you need help preventing AC mold in Modesto, contact Loves Air today!
