Mold is a dreaded problem no homeowner wants to face. Exposure to mold in the home, whether visible or not, can cause a variety of 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 sometimes picked up and pushed into your living areas. Be on the lookout for signs that mold could be lurking in your AC, including a musty smell when the unit is running (especially after it has been turned off for a while), frequent allergy symptoms when in the home or even visible mold on the exterior of the unit. If you notice these signs, it is important to resolve the mold issue as soon as possible. ChillTek AC Repair Glendale has created this guide on how to clean a window air conditioner unit to make your mold issue a thing of the past.
Supply List
- Protective eyewear
- Face mask
- Gloves
- Water
- Laundry detergent
- Bleach
- Mild dish soap
- 5-gallon bucket
- Cloth
- Scrub brush
- Screwdriver
- Vacuum cleaner with attachments
Mold Removal Safety Tips
Before we detail how to clean a window air conditioner with mold, note that it should always be performed in a well-ventilated area. You will also be using bleach, which you should avoid getting onto your skin or in your mouth or eyes.
AC Unit Mold Removal Instructions
- Put on your safety gear (mask, eyewear, and gloves).
- Turn off the air conditioner and unplug the unit from its power source.
- Relocate the unit to a well-ventilated area.
- 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 the 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 away any visible mold growth.
- In your bucket, mix a solution of ½ cup bleach, 1 tablespoon mild dish soap, and 3 gallons hot water. Be very cautious to avoid inhaling the bleach, getting it on your skin or clothing or in your eyes.
- 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 it 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.
- Reassemble the air conditioning unit and plug it back into its power source.
