Air conditioners collect dust and debris like any other element of your house. Plus, as they generate moisture, they may also grow mold. It is important to keep your air conditioner clean not only to keep it operating well but to stop it from spreading mold spores through the home or creating mold issues near it.
How often should you clean your air conditioner? You should clean your air conditioner every year, or when you see any of these signs.
Mold and mildew growth that is near the air conditioner, and not even just those that are on the unit itself, may be caused by the air conditioner. If you have mold problems, cleaning the air conditioner and ensuring that its drain line is working properly is an important thing to do. Air conditioners with hidden mold infections will continue to spew mold spores even if you clean up the mold growth on any surrounding surfaces.
Your air conditioner’s filter picks up particles from the air to protect the machine from this dirt and debris. Eventually, it gets clogged. It’s good practice to clean the rest of the air conditioner when you’re cleaning or replacing the filter, as the rest of the unit has also been exposed to dust and other airborne particles since the last time you dealt with the filter.
Unusual noises from the air conditioner are always a concern, but not always a sign that it needs to be cleaned. When the noise is caused by dirt build-up, the unit tends to sound like it’s developing a bit of a cough. Some people call the sound a wheeze, huff, or rattle. You should call the professionals anytime that your air conditioner is making an unusual noise, but cleaning it first is also a smart step.
Your air conditioner should put out crisp, clean air, not air that has a distinct smell. This can be a sign of bacterial or mold infections somewhere in the unit. So, any smell is a good reason to clean out your air conditioner.
When your air conditioner isn’t producing as much air as it should, that likely means that there is debris blocking the flow of air somewhere in the unit. The unit may be responsible, or you may need to get your air ducts cleaned instead. Taking care of both issues is wise.
If dirt and debris have gathered on the coils, the unit will be less efficient.
Cleaning your AC coils is a task that few people look forward to and that not everyone knows how to do. You can always have your HVAC professional clean the coils and the other elements of your air conditioner when they are doing their yearly maintenance on the unit.
Reach out to HVAC Link to schedule your next Air conditioner maintenance appointment.
Serving Milton, Oakville, Burlington, Georgetown, Mississauga, and The GTA
