If you have to use a window air conditioning unit to help keep your home cool, odds are high that at some point it's been a little smelly. If you know how to clean one properly, then this is never a problem for long, but if you neglect your cleaning duties, it can develop into a big chore that no one really wants to do. In this article, we're going to focus on how to clean a window air conditioner only, not a central heat and air unit.
What Causes Mold in Your Window A/C Unit?
Mold is caused in your window A/C unit by the dust and dirt that it accumulates inside it over time as it's being used. Mold needs two things to grow: moisture and nutrients. The dust in the air contains everything from pet dander to dead human skin cells, hair, and more, so there's the food source. The moisture is pulled through the air conditioner naturally as it cycles through the air in the house. The two things combined create the perfect environment for mold to thrive.
Is Mold in a Window Air Conditioner Dangerous?
Mold in your window A/C can be dangerous if it's left there and not dealt with for a long time. Mold in general can aggravate allergies or cause you to become seriously ill depending on the strain of mold you're being exposed to. Mold in your air conditioner can cause:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Skin rashes
- Sore throat
- Itchy eyes
- Nasal congestion
- Wheezing
- And more
Mold can cause sore throats at minimum and more serious illnesses, and even though they're rare, it only takes one time to land you in the hospital.
How To Prevent Mold in Your Window Air Conditioner
Preventing mold in your air conditioning unit is simple if you follow the steps below.
Maintain it regularly
If you can find one, it's a good idea to get an HVAC technician to come and do a professional cleaning on your window unit. Window air conditioners can last a long time if properly maintained and cleaned; many last as many as ten years or more. Central heat and air units can last 15 to 20 years. If you spend more on your window unit and you maintain it, you can typically bet on it lasting a similar amount of time.
Reduce or eliminate dust
Dust your home regularly or invest in a great air purifier that can pull as much dust out of the air as possible. Mold loves to grow wherever there is dust because it provides all the right nutrients for it to do so.
Get a window unit with humidity control
You don't ever want to let the humidity in your home go above 40 to 50%, because mold grows much faster at those humidity levels. By purchasing a unit that has a humidity control in it, the unit will shut on and off based on the humidity in the room, as well as the temperature.
Use “auto” when you're not at home
When you're going away for a while and you're not going to be there to use your window unit, you should be using the “auto” mode on it so the machine shuts on and off on its own at an acceptable temperature. This keeps air flow going through the unit and through your home and helps prevent air stagnation that encourages mold growth. When air is warm, moist, and doesn't move around much, it's an ideal breeding ground for mold. Mold can get out of hand quickly and when it goes past covering around 10 square feet of affected area, you should hire a professional to remediate it, according to the EPA.
Clean it once summer is over
Once the summer is over and you're not be using the unit anymore, it's best to do a thorough cleaning and use an air conditioner cover while you're not using it. This will help prevent dust and dirt from building back up on it before the next summer.
How to Clean Mold Out of Your Window Air Conditioner
Now that we know how to prevent mold from growing in your air conditioner, we'll cover how you can clean it below. Note that the longer you take to clean the unit, the more laborious it will be to get it clean and the harder it will be to get it completely clean. Note that it's a good idea to go through this entire process with your window unit if you plan on moving and taking the unit with you.
Cleaning supplies:
- Non-porous Gloves
- Face mask
- Eye protection
- Dish soap
- Scrub brush
- Vacuum cleaner with hose attachment
- Bleach
Step 1: Put on your protective gear
Depending on the mold you're dealing with in your window unit, you should be wearing an N-95 respirator at the very least. Gloves are also necessary, not just because of the mold spores you'll be coming into contact with but also because of the harsh cleaning chemicals you may be using.
Step 2: Unplug the window air conditioner
Disconnecting your window air conditioner from the electricity supply is very important. However, even if you've already unplugged it, there could still be live electricity inside the unit waiting to bite you. Because of this, you want to discharge the unit's capacitor carefully. You should use an insulated screwdriver for this job, as anything else (like a butter knife, DIYers) can get you zapped. The capacitor is typically located in a side panel. If it isn't, you should leave the unit disconnected and wait at least 24 hours for the capacitor to discharge.
Step 3: Remove the air conditioner from the window, if possible
If you can take the air conditioner out of the window, you should do so. You can clean it more thoroughly and outside where you don't have to be concerned with all the dirty stuff floating back into your home.
Some companies will tell you that you can push your window unit out of the window if it has something soft to land on. Do NOT do this; you will damage your unit. If you want to push the unit outside, have someone reasonably close by capable of grabbing it (not “catching” it, these things are heavy) help you. Also, if your unit is on the second floor, pull it inside, then take it outside.
Step 4: Take off the front panel
This may be something that is screwed on or snapped on. Either way, it has to come off.
Step 5: Clean the filter
Depending on what the filter is made of, you can clean it in a sink with hot, soapy water. If it's a replaceable filter, you should be replacing it regularly.
Step 6: Spray with the mold cleaner of your choice
You can use the cleaner you choose, but vinegar or a foaming disinfectant spray is best. You'll want to let either one of these set on the surface of the air conditioner for at least 5 to 10 minutes to get maximum effect out of them.
Step 7: Scrub your air conditioner with warm water and your cleaner
Scrub the unit while your cleaner is on it using your gloved hands. Any grille should be cleaned thoroughly because it's likely to be especially dirty.
Step 8: Use a steam cleaner with attachments if you have one
Steam cleaners with wand attachments are great at killing mold naturally without using chemical cleaners, even common ones like vinegar or bleach. McCulloch makes a great one, and you can find it on Amazon.
Step 9: Let is dry out for 24 hours before using it again
This is an important part. You want the unit to dry out completely before plugging it back into any electrical source. It may not take 24 hours, depending on where you live, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Step 10: Spray a mold-inhibiting chemical inside the air conditioner
One of the best things you can use to inhibit mold growth in your air conditioning unit is Mold Control by Concrobium.
Step 11: Reassemble your air conditioner, and if you removed it from the window, reinstall it there
Once all of this is done, it's time to reinstall your window unit where you initially had it. Reinstall it back in the window according to the instructions you used to install it in the first place, and you're ready to have a cool room again.
Conclusion
Even though some people will tell you that window air conditioning units can't be cleaned effectively, this isn't true. They'll never be as clean as they were the day you bought them, but neither will your home's central heating unit. When you discover that your unit is dirty or smells like mold, don't hesitate to clean it by following the steps above.
