Styrofoam, with its irregular surface, is a dream vacation destination for mildew and mold. That means that as germs enter your home, they aren’t being removed. If you live in New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine or Rhode Island, your best solution for HVAC service is Smart Touch Energy. This instructional guide offers the best ways to reduce home bacteria in your HVAC system. Remember to protect yourself from inhaling the hydrogen peroxide while spraying since it’s very harmful to your health. If the filter is specifically designed for your unit, please identify it. Cleaning an HVAC system thoroughly is challenging, and it often requires pulling equipment apart. Mold spores are microscopic and not visible to the naked eye, so clean surfaces even if you do not see mold. A dusty and dirty HVAC system is more susceptible to germs and other pollutants. Follow along with these simple steps to ensure the cleanliness and functionality of your unit. This involves more than simply covering unsightly stains with paint, which don’t fix the problem. Patches of drywall that have been damaged need to be removed. Please note that you should not use Lysol to sanitize your HVAC system's return vents. (After unplugging it of course ;) Knowing how to clean an air conditioner that sits in the window is just as money-saving as cleaning your own central air system. HEPA filters are capable of catching particles that are much smaller than the space between fibers. Question - is it harmful to spray Lysol into the returns? Direct the spray into the air conditioner fins, which (being the outermost components) harbor much of the dirt and grime. Never mix bleach with ammonia; it results in toxic fumes. A hidden leak will be identified during routine maintenance and repaired promptly, meaning that this concern can be avoided. The simplest of these techniques is to lift up the registers, wipe them down and vacuum each vent as thoroughly as possible. Not only will they set up traps or spray chemicals to drive off or kill the pests, but they will discover the way by which the critters entered in the first place and ensure they no longer have a way to enter your home. Allow the inside of the vent to dry thoroughly before reattaching the vent cover. They are essentially mats of randomly arranged fiberglass fibers, somewhere between 0.5 and 2.0 micrometers. That way, as air circulates throughout your home, you will simultaneously be sending the air through an effective disinfecting apparatus. Though no one wants to open a window in summer or winter, it’s in the winter when the lack of humidity already makes the air conducive to infections like the flu. Armor All Car Air Freshener and Cleaner - Odor Eliminator for Cars & Truck, Freshfx Tranquil Skies, 5 Fl Oz Vent & Duct, 18546 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,698 $5.99 $ 5 . After 15 minutes, rinse and allow the filter and vent cover to air-dry. However, while they are great tools, they are not effective when it comes to addressing airborne germs. Individual room filtration is nice because it allows you to be flexible with where you use it. the product in the spray can is (almost certainly) flammable and explosive - yet Toyota itself uses the same thing; i've also seen videos of people spraying Lysol into their fresh air intake to remove odors. Fill the spray bottler with the hydrogen peroxide first then turn off the air conditioner and then spray the intake area gently. You need to have all windows or doors open, the A/C on full and the engine and fan running. Air conditioner vents can be breeding grounds for black mold. First and foremost, you spend more time indoors and in places where airborne germs can easily concentrate. That’s why so many people install portable humidifiers in their bedrooms every winter, but increasing humidity could also serve as your first line of defense against the flu. This can lead to a quite intolerable situation, making your house seem gross and inhospitable. Wipe the blades, duct opening and the inside of the vent with a long, flexible mop soaked in the bleach solution. Filtration especially requires regular maintenance. Discard mold-infested materials in heavy-duty plastic bags. After you clean your air conditioner vents, inspect walls and insulation to find the source of the black mold infestation. If the damage is being caused by an HVAC leak, then that also needs to be fixed right away or else the damage will just return. Remember, many entry-level humidifiers can harbor their own germs. Can Mold Get Into Central Heat & Air Units? Instead, these particles stick to the fibers as they pass over them. Give the air conditioner a quick makeover easily with spray paint. From a comfort standpoint, increasing the winter humidity in your home can reduce dry, itchy skin while combatting respiratory problems such as nosebleeds. Water damage, especially in drywall or wood studs, can produce mold. For example, leaky air conditioners and stagnant water can create mold issues while also serving as a breeding ground for bacteria. It is in those moments that air filtration becomes so important. Regular maintenance checks include an inspection of the condensate drain as well as a cleaning of evaporator coils. I definitely think its more of a problem now, since manufacturers now use styrofoam insulation inside of window units. Repeat for the heater with the heater full on fan full on, etc. They have the added benefit of making your house feel warmer without needing to crank the thermostat. We recommend cleaning or exchanging your filter at least once a month. Musty smells are caused due to several factors and can be eliminated with … Window units pull outside air and push it through a refrigerator unit. An avid gardener, Evans has a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of New Hampshire, a Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School, and a personal trainer certificate from American Fitness Professionals and Associates. That’s why manufacturers have been creating models with built-in filters and UV germ-killing features. Alternatively, if your air conditioner’s filter can be replaced, swap it out. Homes with open floor plans or that have large rooms are notoriously difficult to humidify. In the spray bottle, combine 2 cups of water, a cup of bleach and 4 drops of liquid dish detergent. When it comes to sanitizing your HVAC system, it's essential to regularly clean and maintain your equipment. How to Sanitize Your HVAC System and Prevent the Spread of Germs at Home. This tool will help you know the exact atmospheric humidity levels in your home. But all that is changing. Ask Your Own Appliance Question. Using a garden sprayer, gently rinse off the coil cleaner with water. I just cleaned my whole AC out with this stuff: AC-Safe Air Conditioner Coil Foaming Cleaner-AC-920 at The Home Depot It did the trick and now it's working like brand new again. Some molds, especially black mold, can cause severe health risks. This is most often done in the bathroom every time you shower. 99 While the risks to your HVAC system may not be as serious as those facing hospitals and healthcare facilities, the same principals apply. If you spray Lysol disinfectant into your air return hoping that you're going to disinfect everything in there what you're doing is spraying a mostly pure alcohol into an air duct and into an air handler and inside of that air handler is an electric motor that's making Sparks you can get a flash explosion that can literally destroy the ductwork in the house it might even blow out the windows or start a fire! Hydrogen Peroxide will kill bacteria, oil of oregano, Thieves in a defuser a combo of clove and other ingredients that are disinfectants. Air conditioners use both outdoor and indoor equipment. Everyone wants to be healthy and keep their family healthy. CNN reports a growing consensus of scientists suggest that homes with an ambient humidity between 40% and 60% have fewer flu germs in the air and on surfaces such as sinks and countertops. Wipe the blades and duct opening as thoroughly as possible with soapy water. They are available at most home improvement stores and can be easily found online. While a homeowner can certainly do some of this work on their own, completing the job is most easily done by a professional. If you have an air conditioner filter, you can buy it. While most people assume HEPA filters work like a sieve, this is incorrect. ... My 1 yr old LG window unit air conditioner is blowing warm air. Remember, these tools are highly-effective, but only if they are in peak operational condition. Tip. The technology is getting cheaper, so a lot of people are adding disinfecting UV light as a redundancy in combination with other sanitizing procedures. Another contributing factor is the lack of humidity in the air. However, by opting for centralized air filtration, you take advantage of some big leaps in technology. Once you have your new filter, reattach it by aligning the arrow located on the outer edge of the screen with the direction of airflow. My dh was concerned that I might be doing something dangerous or damaging to our heating system. “I purchased an air cleaner strictly to operate when and if somebody in my household gets sick so we can reduce the viral load in my house air,” she says. If you have any questions just reply back to me. Luckily, there are air filtration products designed for just these issues. Our service includes a full-service cleaning, one of the most important actions you can take to combat germs in your HVAC system. If the interior workings of a window unit become dirty, they can also harbor germs. While repairs may be a hassle, vermin often return through the same means they first used to enter your home. Combine 1 cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water. It’s worth noting that moving air can make you more comfortable even at a higher temperature. Lysol has other ingredients that's aren't healthy to inhale. © 2018 Smart Touch Energy. Next, invest in a humidifier that is appropriate for the room size and designed with germ-prevention in mind. If this drain backs up, then condensate collects, creating a stagnant pool of water. Hose it off as needed. There is another risk that comes with running the AC: water damage. It is crucial that you avoid using Lysol as an HVAC system sanitizer. All rights reserved. However, if you haven't given your air conditioner a thorough cleaning in a while, the appliance might blast a foul smell into your home along with the cool air. Never run the air conditioner. Step 3: Spray Lysol into the Outside Air Vents. Several times per hour, these filters will take the air of the room and pass it through a highly-effective particulate filter. Replace a worn filter: If your filter is worn or solid, then you should change it. However, not everyone realizes the risk that HVAC-borne germs can pose for their loved ones. A dehumidifier can reduce moisture in your home and prevent black mold growth. We've had a distinct issue with evaporators in hair/nail salons. Keeping a furnace clean is especially challenging in an older home with an unfinished basement. This will help make sure your humidifier doesn’t become a breeding ground for the very germs you are trying to combat! Just try not to direct the water onto the control area and directly onto the fan motor that drives the blower and outside fan part. If so, why? Even if you only do this in the evening, you will drastically improve the air quality of your home. You can spray Lysol or some other similar product into the front of the unit that could take care of the smell. Re-assemble and turn the main power switch on. Even if it is warmer out than the temperature you would normally set on your thermostat, consider turning off the AC and opening a few windows. Basic Cleaning 1 Look and smell for signs of mildew. One of the best ways to keep dust out of your ductwork is to keep the area around both your furnace and your central air conditioning unit clean. While ventilation can remove a large portion of that humidity, it won’t remove it all. Air conditioners can grow mold and start to blow smelly, unhealthy air into your home if not cleaned properly. However, these components tend to collect excess dirt, dust and debris. During periods of increased airborne disease risk such as flu season, this work is especially important. Your air vents and floor registers are essential in generating airflow throughout your home. However, as our reputation for peerless service and fair pricing grew, we expanded our service to include regular HVAC maintenance. Take off the front body grille of your unit. They are good for keeping mildew and germs from growing in the condensate, but really, if you clean the coil good and then spray it all down with lysol, that should be good enough for a few years. With the AC fan running at full power, you should be able to feel air being sucked in. Once you have the coil cleaned up, you might want to look into those germicidal UV lamps and see if there's one you can install inside your air handler. While the risks posed by water damage aren’t contained within the HVAC system, they can be caused by a malfunctioning HVAC system. However, there are more sophisticated centralized filtration systems that will do far more than a simple replaceable air filter. air filteration, Not only will a HEPA filter remove microbes such as the flu or cold virus, but it will also remove dust, mites, pollen and other allergens. Regardless of where you live, you can follow these helpful air quality tips to ensure your HVAC system isn’t becoming a germ factory. In fact, these types of lights have become more popular in restaurants throughout the country. Innovations in HVAC technology have made it easier and more energy-efficient to keep our homes cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, but that kind of environmental control comes at a cost. If you live in an older home, it is likely that uninvited guests, whether they are rodents or insects, have stopped by from time to time. Moreover, regular maintenance will also include system cleaning. I've googled this and looked on YouTube but have found nothing about it for a window unit. During the summer, excess humidity can become a problem. Considering how dry air keeps getting recycled again and again as it flows through your furnace, it can quickly be filled with germs. Even if portable humidifiers are insufficient, you do have options. Re: I sprayed Lysol through the front vents of my air conditioner. Remove the vent cover of a window air conditioner by unscrewing the screws with a screwdriver or pressing in on pressure clips. Rather than generating water vapor on a room-by-room basis, a whole-home humidifier adds moisture to the air in your ductwork. Shut the engine off, wait 20 minutes or so, and then repeat without spraying anything in, to purge the system. Remove dust from the inside of the air conditioner, as the dust in the moist environment allows mold to thrive. Wash the air filter with a disinfecting cleaner like Lysol Power & Free ®. Luckily, there's a variety of ways you can rid your registers of gunk and grime. Furthermore, if you have added central filtration or humidifiers, you also have more moving parts to be addressed. Take the bags outdoors through a window or door in the room in which you just cleaned to avoid contaminating other areas of the house. If your filter doesn't need to be replaced but could still use some sanitation, simply remove the filter and rinse it off on a monthly basis. While it is more expensive than individual air filtration devices, it will save on energy and replacement costs in the long run. With the right tools, disinfectants and know-how, HVAC system cleaning can be easy. Since the flu and other viruses survive more easily in low humidity environments, creating a more moderate humidity in your home can keep you and your family healthier. Lysol has a high ethanol alcohol concentration, which means it is highly flammable. Refrigerating coils create condensation, causing water to collect and therefore giving germs a comfortable place to multiply. Mold and bacteria like damp environments. Then once it is dry spray it down with LYSOL this will kill any mold or mildew that may be left. Short showers are simple solutions that can go a long way in improving the through! Shut the engine off, wait 20 minutes or so, you do have options with paint! Cleaner or detergent/water mixture and wait 5 minutes as germs enter your home a cleaner! 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