Lexington Oaks Blog

ANN -
Several people have asked about the mold in their AC units.
There was so much to explain about the problem, I wasn't able to call each person back. This may be a little long too--but I'll try to put it all in this post.

FIRST - IF you're a normal person, don't have abnormal allergies, then you're OK with a little mold in your AC unit. There is mold in every AC unit in Florida--don't panic! Of course you have moisture in there--check it REGULARLY to make sure the drain pan is draining and not clogged up. You CAN use diluted clorox/water (my husband said very diluted) and spray any mold you see inside the unit. It will kill the mold. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, and then rinse it with water. Repeat later if necessary. One lady mentioned in her note to you that she put clorox water on a moistened cloth in her unit, and then let it run while she was gone. Eric says that sounds OK but it won't kill mold in your ducts. He doesn't see how an air unit that is as new as these houses could have mold so bad that it would require a light. He said they are mainly for evaporator coils, not for ductwork. If you see mold on the coil, just spray it and it will kill it. If you don't know how to find the coil, then get someone to help you or have a technician do it. If you want Eric to come over and show you how to do it the first time, he will do that for $20, or you can just ask the AC technician to show you the next time he is at your house. You should also change your filters at the frequency noted on the filter (if you buy the cheap ones, change them once a month).

NOW - IF you're not a normal person--you have very severe or abnormal allergic reactions--you might want the UV light. But there are drawbacks to the light. It will only kill mold that it directly shines on. You can't move them around to shine on different parts of the inside of the unit once they are installed. ALSO, they use a lot of electricity. He said he would never leave one on all the time, because it's not necessary, and it uses a lot of electricity, AND because the bulbs are expensive to replace (could be $200 for bulb and service call). If you price the units, be sure to ask for the cost of electricity to run it (the salesman should know this) and the cost of the bulbs. Reminds me of a printer I bought one time for $27; and I found out later it had the most expensive toner refill cartridges in the store! They get you comin' and goin', as my mom would say! One more thing--if you have bad allergies, you should make sure you aren't buying the cheapest filters Home Depot has (especially if you have a PET).
He also said he couldn't order the UV lights for you, because he can't get them through his company (they don't do residential). He said you could ask if the brand you are considering is Steril-Aire. His company buys from them and they are good.
Sorry he can't save you any money, but I hope the advice will help you make a wise decision on an expensive purchase. ***If you think the AC Technician is just trying to sell you something that you don't need, then Eric could come over and look at your unit and give you a non-biased second opinion for a nominal fee.***