We don’t really have a nice, dry heat here in Lousiana. Our summer season isn’t just hot. It’s sticky and it’s muggy. That level of humidity can cause some problems on top of discomfort. Remember, your air conditioner has a dehumidifying effect in your home. As refrigerant evaporates to cool the air in your house, it draws moisture out of the air. That moisture collects on the coil before dripping off into the condensate drain.
You probably know that damp conditions can lead to the growth of biological pollutants like bacteria and mold. That latter one is a real concern when it comes to your air conditioning system. Avoid this highly undesirable combination with these tips from the Shreveport, LA, HVAC professionals on our team. Should mold start in your AC, remember, that system can potentially spread the spores throughout your entire home. That is definitely not a situation that you want to allow for.
Why Is Mold a Serious Problem?
Mold is a serious problem because it can have very serious implications for those living in the house affected by its presence. Specifically, it has serious implications in terms of overall health. If you have vulnerable individuals in your home, such as young children, elderly residents, or anyone with respiratory issues, the risk is even greater.
If you’re breathing in the mold in your home, you can experience symptoms like aggravated allergy and asthma flareups. In some cases, certain strains of mold can actually have more serious effects on your health. We are not alarmists and we don’t intend to scare you into action, but we do want to make clear that avoiding moldy conditions in your home is unquestionably important.
What You Can Do to Prevent Mold Growth
The most important thing that you can do to avoid mold growth in your home is to keep your air conditioner clean. Change the filter regularly to help prevent the buildup of dust and dirt in your system.
Also, be on the lookout for any signs of water around your AC. That could mean that your condensate drain line is backed up or that the pan is cracked.
What to Do If Mold Is Present
Do you see mold in your AC system when you take a peek in? Is mold popping up in your home? Does it just smell musty in the house all of a sudden? If that’s the case, you’ll need to schedule services with trained professionals.
Cleaning your coil of mold on your own is not recommended, since it can introduce spores into your home or your lungs, and the removal of mold already growing in the house is really going to require the services of a mold remediation specialist. So, while there are solutions out there, your best course of action is definitely prevention when mold is involved.
Feel free to contact a member of our team with any questions that you may have.
