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Who Should I Trust For Mini Split Cleaning And Maintenance?

by | Apr 7, 2022 | blog

Who Should I Trust To Maintain And Clean My Ductless Mini Split?

Who Should I Trust For Mini Split Cleaning And Maintenance?While you can take a few DIY steps to help keep your mini split in great shape, you need a reliable, trustworthy HVAC contractor for annual maintenance. And, dedicated deep cleanings are essential for maintaining your system’s performance and energy efficiency.

Fortunately, coordinating all this becomes very simple once you have the right people. And, it helps to know what each service entails, why it’s important, and how to find the right person for each job.

We’ll help you figure all that out in this article. You’ll learn the three critical steps toward proper maintenance, why you need them, and who you should call for each one.

Then, we’ll talk specifically about how to make sure you’ve found someone reliable and trustworthy to handle the work.

Three Easy Ways To Keep Your Mini Split In Great Shape

There are three important parts of regular mini split maintenance. Addressing all three keeps your system in excellent working order:

    1. Clean The Filters
    2. Seasonal Tune-Ups
    3. Deep CleaningRelated: How Can I Make My Mini Split Last Longer?
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Clean The Filters

How Mold In Ductless Mini Splits Cause Biotoxin IllnessCleaning the filter in each air handler is an easy first step toward maintaining your system. The filter prevents dust and other particles from gumming up the components inside your system. And, those pollutants won’t recirculate into the air you breathe when you’re in the room.

Unlike the ones you use for furnaces, these air filters are reusable. So, instead of tossing out the old one and putting in a new one, you’ll remove the one in your air handler, clean it out, and put it back in.

It only takes a few minutes, and you don’t need any tools to access it. We recommend cleaning each one every month. You may want to do it more often if you have pets that shed and find their fur or feathers in the filter.

The filter won’t catch everything — and we’ll address that concern later — but it makes a big impact. However, if it gets clogged, you’ll get a drop in circulation when air can’t pass through it.

Seasonal Tune-Ups

You should have a professional HVAC contractor inspect, clean, and optimize your mini split once a year if you only use it for cooling and twice annually if it also serves as a heater. This service goes a long way toward maintaining your system’s performance and energy efficiency.

Your HVAC company checks dozens of inspection points to root out anything that will cause a problem later. If an electrical connection is loose, they’ll tighten it. If a part is worn down, they’ll replace it before it breaks, causing more damage and a more expensive repair call down the line.

These maintenance visits are often called “tune-ups.” The best times to get them are in the spring and fall, so your system is ready for its peak seasons.

And, maintenance is essential for keeping your warranty valid. If you check the fine print on the manufacturer’s agreement, it states the warranty is void unless you have your system serviced regularly.

Related: Heat Pump Service Keeps Your Home Healthy And Comfortable

The Cost Of A Ductless Cleaning

Deep Cleaning

A deep cleaning is a step beyond a tune-up. While your tech will clear out any surface dust or buildup, they can’t access every area inside the air handlers and heat pump. As a result, it’s common for those components, especially the indoor units, to become infested with mold and other microbial contaminants.

The problem is much more common with mini splits than with other systems.

The inside of each component provides excellent conditions for bacteria, mold spores, and other contaminants to thrive. And, it’s pretty much possible to clean them completely without taking apart the entire system.

Doing that much would take hours, making it expensive for an HVAC tech. And even then, it’s challenging to get in between, say, every tiny ridge, or fin, on the coil.

But, that’s one spot in particular where mold grows and bacteria thrive. Check out the grime in this photo to see what we mean:

All that organic buildup means air can’t pass over the coil to get heated or cooled properly. Even worse, you breathe in all that junk when the air blows back out.

That’s why deep cleaning is an important complement to a tune-up: It addresses problems a regular maintenance call can’t address. And it makes a massive impact on your indoor air quality and your system’s performance and energy usage.

Related: How Often Should My Mini Split Be Cleaned?

How To Find A Reliable HVAC Contractor

When you’re in the market for a reliable contractor, you want someone with excellent reviews, an office you can visit, and a track record of regularly working in your town. The best way to find one is through a referral from family or friends, and you can do more research on your own. First, always make sure the contractor you’re considering has a location you can visit. The longer they’ve been in business, the better. Also, check that their trucks have permanent decals on them. People that use removable or magnetic signage are often fly-by-night operators. Next, check their Yelp! reviews and Google ratings. You want to see plenty of five-star ratings and glowing comments. When it comes to their BBB rating, of course you want to see an A+. But, here’s another hint: Read any complaints against them. If you see the same concerns coming up over and over again, that’s a red flag. Even if they resolve them, they still struggle with that part of the business. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask them for referrals, especially if you’re getting quotes on a big job. They should be able to provide the names and numbers of satisfied customers that will vouch for them.

HVAC Contractors Vs. Mini Split Cleaning

The last thing to consider is whether your HVAC contractor can also provide a mini split cleaning. Most of them will do a great job with maintenance, repairs, and installation. But, few have the specialized equipment and know-how to provide efficient and effective deep cleans.

Related: What To Expect Before, During, And After A HydroKleen Cleaning

At HydroKleen208, we use specialized pressure washers calibrated to flush out air handlers and heat pumps without damaging any equipment. The hoses are shaped to reach every nook and cranny inside each unit without us taking anything apart. 

Then, our catchment bags hook onto the air handler to catch all the dirty water coming out without spilling a drop in your home. Finally, our liquid cleaning agents are non-toxic and environmentally-friendly. 

This way, we don’t introduce any new toxins into your home or put anything like that into the sewer when we drain it out. 

That’s all to say: These are the tools and strategies you need for a deep clean. To prove our point, here’s another picture of a dirty coil. We cleaned one side, stopped to take this photo, and then continued. You can see the difference: 

You Can See How Dirty A Mini Split System Can Get

HydroKleen has dozens of teams around the globe, and we’re growing in the United States as mini splits become more popular. If you live in Boise Metro or Valley County in Idaho, call us at (208) 779-5596 to learn more about what we do — and how we do it best.

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Five Common Signs Of A Mold Problem In Your Home (And More)

by | Apr 1, 2022 | blog

Does Your Home Have A Mold Problem? Here’s What You Want To Look For

Five Common Signs Of A Mold Problem In Your Home (And More)Sure, everyone knows the clear signs of a severe mold problem at home: Big, ugly splotches, usually dark green or black, on a wall. Maybe it’s in the basement, or even upstairs if you’ve dealt with a leak.

But, that’s not the first sign of an issue. Far from it.

Mold tends to grow in out-of-the-way places, especially where there’s no light. So, you’re probably not going to notice a colony of spores right away when it’s growing behind the drywall or in a storage box.

In fact, by the time you do notice those significant visual signs, the problem’s already out of hand.

Instead, you need to keep an eye (and your other senses) out for those smaller and sometimes subtle clues that mold is growing in your home.

It can happen in any house, but homes that use mini split heating and cooling are even more at risk than others.

We’ll talk more about that a little later in this article. But first, we’re going through the common signs of mold in your home and some of the physical symptoms and health problems you can experience.

If you catch the problem fast enough, it’s possible to get rid of it on your own. And, with some extra care in the future, you’ll prevent it from coming back.

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Five Telltale Signs Of A Mold Problem At Home

By the time you see mold growing on a wall or on furniture in your home,it’s already become widespread. Instead, look for these other telltale signs to catch a mold problem early on:

  1. Stale, Rotten Smell
  2. HVAC Smells
  3. Spots On Clothing
  4. Warped Walls
  5. Black Spots

Related: What Is The Best Temperature To Prevent Mold From Growing At Home?

Stale, Rotten Smell

Why Does My Mini-Split Smell Like Cheese Or Dirty Socks?You can’t see mold growing behind your walls or inside your HVAC system, but you’ll be able to smell it. Spores in the air will have a stale, rotten smell to them.

HVAC Smells

When it comes to heating and cooling, the odor caused by a mold colony has a specific name: Dirty Sock Syndrome.

That refers to the stale, cheesy smell you notice when your system circulates mold spores through the house. Check to see if the odor is more pungent around vents or near the air handlers of a ductless system.

Read More: Why Does My Mini Split Smell Like Cheese Or Dirty Socks?

Spots On Clothing

Mold can also grow on clothes, and you can spot it by watching for white or brown splotches on fabric that are squishy or fuzzy. It’s especially a problem if your clothes are still damp once they’re done in the dryer. Or if they’re tucked away in a box or drawer for a long time in a humid environment.

Warped Walls

Drywall is almost always used for interior walls in homes, and they’re porous. As a result, mold growing inside the wall will warp both sides of the drywall. So, even if the infestation is growing where you can’t see it, you’ll notice bulging and disfiguration on the side of the wall you can see.

Similarly, you may also notice bubbling and warping wallpaper.

Related: How Long Does Mold Remediation Take?

Black Spots

Once you start noticing black spots on a wall, particularly near the ceiling or in a corner, you know you’ve got a mold problem quickly getting out of hand.

It’s easiest to spot on finished walls because it stands out against the paint. But, spots on the walls or floor of a dark, unfinished basement can blend in more easily with stonework and mortar.

Four Physical Symptoms Of Mold Exposure At Home

Exposure to excess mold in your home will start to cause health problems including:

  1. Allergy Symptoms
  2. Trouble Breathing
  3. Rashes And Blemishes
  4. Sinus Headaches

Allergy Symptoms

Mold Can Cause Breathing Problems And IrritationsPeople with a mold allergy will respond to spores the same way people with seasonal allergies respond to pollen: Their immune system overreacts, and they experience runny noses, itchy eyes, a cough, and throat irritation.

Trouble Breathing

Breathing in a foreign and potentially toxic substance like mold spores can make you nauseous and trigger asthma attacks. Anyone with a respiratory problem such as COPD is also more vulnerable to difficulty breathing due to mold exposure.

Rashes And Blemishes

A rash from mold looks like any other rash triggered by an allergic reaction. So, you’ll want to look for some of the other signs we discussed. But, the brown or pink blemishes are often itchy with small raised bumps. And, they can make your skin dry, scaly, and sensitive to the touch.

Sinus Headaches

Headaches and sinus problems are common with mold exposure or being allergic to it. The problem is twofold: Inflammation from the allergic reaction, plus irritation of your respiratory system both contribute to sinusitis and related problems.

Related: Can Mold Cause Vertigo?

How Long Do Mold Spores Live?

Mold spores live for centuries as long as there’s organic matter for food plus a suitable place to cultivate. Mold spores on clothes usually live for a day or two. But, they’ll keep multiplying and form a colony that keeps growing if the conditions are right in your home.

Mold Spores And Ductless Mini Splits

Over the last ten years, we’ve discovered that ductless mini splits — particularly the air handlers — are prime breeding grounds for mold. These units trap bacteria and other organic matter, which serves as food.

Plus, they’re dark, warm, and damp — the perfect environment for a colony to thrive.

And, to make things worse, those spores spread through the air you breathe every time the system starts blowing warmed or cooled air back into the room.

Related: How Often Should A Mini Split Be Cleaned?

For example, here’s a photo of an air handler we started cleaning. You can see the side of the coil we’ve treated versus the side we didn’t get to yet:

You Can See How Dirty A Mini Split System Can Get

If you’ve had your mini split for more than a year, you should consider a deep cleaning. That’s especially so if you’re also noticing signs and symptoms of mold exposure in your Treasure Valley Home. If you want to schedule a cleaning, or just ask some questions to learn more about it, call HydroKleen208 at (208) 779-5596. We service the Boise Metro area along with Kuna, Cascade, and McCall, ID up in Valley County. 

 

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Studies Show Mold Can Contribute To Depression And Anxiety

by | Mar 30, 2022 | blog

Studies Show Mold Exposure Can Contribute To Depression And Anxiety

Studies Show Mold Can Contribute To Depression And AnxietyWhen most people think of getting sick from mold exposure, they think about feeling nauseous or generally ill. Maybe trouble breathing or allergy symptoms.

They should also consider psychological problems like difficulty concentrating, anxiety, and even depression.

We’ve seen more and more studies showing the full range of adverse effects of mold exposure. The phrase “mold toxicity” comes up more and more, and it encompasses a wide range of physical, psychological, and neurological symptoms. 

At the same time, there’s no clear consensus from the medical community on mold toxicity. Some experts say the facts prove it’s real. Others say it’s at worst an exaggeration. Or, at best (so to speak), really symptoms of various other mold- and indoor air quality-related issues.

Call it whatever you want. The bottom line is that the research shows links between prolonged exposure to mold and depression or anxiety. And that’s what we’re focussing on in this article. 

We’ll explore each connection and examine the distinction between mold exposure and being allergic to it. 

Finally, we’ll mention your heating and cooling system’s role, particularly if you have a mini split at home.

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Can Mold Cause Depression?

A groundbreaking 2007 study from Brown University gives us the clearest links between mold and depression. Their research, published in the American Journal of Public Health, studied and verified what were previously anecdotal correlations between mold-related illnesses and damp, moldy homes.  The results didn’t point to a silver bullet here: It’s not like mold spores in the body directly caused depression the way exposure to a flu virus gives you influenza.  However, there is a physical component here: Mold exposure can trigger health problems, including asthma attacks, nausea, diarrhea, and headaches. Those “poor physical outcomes,” the theory says, are often associated with the onset of depression.  Related: Can Mold Make You Tired? Then, there are psychological factors. The study notes that “Housing is inextricably linked to one’s perception of control.”  In other words, feeling like you can’t control the condition of the place you live can result in emotional distress and depression.   Related: Healthy Indoor Air Quality Is Crucial For People With Asthma These conditions don’t lead to depression for everyone, of course. But anyone with a history of mental health problems or poor physical health is more likely to experience mental health issues due to mold exposure.

Can Mold Cause Anxiety?

The Brown studies also showed relations between mold exposure and anxiety. The triggers are mostly the same: lack of control over living conditions and poor physical health can trigger anxiety. And anxiety and depression aren’t the only symptoms associated with mold exposure and mold toxicity.
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According to Psychology Today, people also suffer from “brain fog” or difficulty concentrating and insomnia. 

Related: What Is The Best Temperature To Prevent Mold In My Home?

Mold Toxicity Vs. Mold Allergy

Mold Can Cause Breathing Problems And IrritationsThere’s a difference between mold toxicity and having a mold allergy, and it’s worth noting. In a nutshell, allergy symptoms are acute and alleviate quickly once you’re no longer exposed to the spores. Toxicity symptoms become chronic and are often the result of long-term exposure.

A mold allergy works the way seasonal allergies do: The immune systems in people who are allergic to mold overreacts to exposure. The results are symptoms like itchy eyes, coughs, throat irritation, and a runny nose.

But, those symptoms clear up quickly once the person is no longer round mold spores — the same way a person with a cat or pollen allergy will feel better once they’re not near any felines or pollen.

But, mold toxicity symptoms will not disappear once you’re no longer exposed to spores. They’re not necessarily permanent, but they are chronic and will take more work to treat and eliminate.

Related: 10 Early Warning Signs Of Mold Toxicity

Mold Risks In Homes With Ductless Mini Splits

We’re talking about mold, anxiety, and depression here because we’re all too familiar with how these relate to homes and businesses that use ductless mini splits for heating and cooling.

These systems are great for comfort and energy efficiency. But, they’re also especially prone to mold infestations and exposing people to mold spores in the air.

The dark, damp, and warm conditions inside air handlers make it easy for mold spores to cultivate into colonies quickly. Then, those tiny spores get blown back out of the system and into the air you breathe.

Related: How Mold In Your HVAC System Causes Biotoxin Illness

At the same, it’s difficult to clean out these systems. Until recently, the only way to do it is to have a professional take apart every handler and manually scrub every component and surface by hand, 

It would take hours and hours, making it extremely expensive. And, even then, there’d be no guarantee it would work. 

That’s why HydroKleen208 uses customized tools and non-toxic cleaners designed to eradicate all the junk that builds up in a mini split with a single, quick visit. 

Here’s an example of the difference we can make. We took the photo below at a recent cleaning. We cleaned off half of the coil but left the other side dirty so the homeowner could see our progress. 

You can see for yourself just how much dirt, mold, and microbial contamination builds up inside the system — and how well we can get rid of it: 

You Can See How Dirty A Mini Split System Can Get

If you’ve had a mini split in your Treasure Valley home for more than a year, then it’s time to consider a deep cleaning. It improves your indoor air quality (which keeps you healthy), helps the system run better (meaning better comfort), and increases its efficiency (reducing your electric bill). 

Related: How Often Should A Mini Split Be Cleaned?

If you’re in Boise Metro or Valley County, give us a call at (208) 779-5596 or click below to reach us at HydroKleen208. You can schedule a mini split and heat pump cleaning or just ask some questions about our service or hour home’s indoor air quality in general.

Schedule A HydroKleen Appointment

Homes With Mini Splits: Symptoms Of Mold Exposure In Babies

by | Mar 28, 2022 | blog

Signs Of Mold Exposure In Babies (And Risks From Ductless Mini Splits)

Homes With Mini Splits: Symptoms Of Mold Exposure In Babies

Sure, babies get sick all the time. As the immunity they receive from their mother wanes, all those nasty germs and viruses start to take their toll until your little one builds a strong immune system of their own. 

But, just knowing that it’s a natural part of life doesn’t make it any easier to watch your kid fight a cold. Nor will it stop you from worrying that there’s a bigger problem than just the sniffles. 

Unfortunately, we’ve all heard the horror stories about a baby suddenly getting very sick, developing a severe health problem, or worse (and no, we’re not linking to any examples here). 

As scary as that is, there’s plenty you can do (and likely already do) to keep your baby safe and healthy at home. One thing that’s easy to overlook, however, is mold exposure.

Related: 10 Early Warning Signs Of Mold Toxicity

If your home has had a mold problem before, it’s possible that trace amounts are still present or regrowing. Or, you’ve got a new problem, and your young one is the first to feel physical symptoms from it.

We’ll go through what to look for and what to do if you think a mold problem is making your child sick. 

And in particular, we’re diving into this topic because of its relationship to ductless mini split heating and cooling. Our specialty is heat pump and mini split deep cleans in Boise Metro and Valley County.

People often call us because of mold problems in their homes. Others call because of problems with their system or when the air in their home feels stale or dirty. 

We often find mold in the air handlers as the root of the problem when we get there.

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Dangers Of Mold Exposure In Babies And Children

Mold exposure can cause problems for people of any age, especially if they’re allergic. But, babies and young children are especially vulnerable because their immune systems aren’t fully developed. And as we’ll see in the next section, it’s not always easy to pinpoint the source of the problem.

So, what happens, exactly, if your baby is exposed to mold?

The best-case scenarios for mold exposure in babies are some mild skin irritations and cold-like symptoms. They may also develop a mold allergy or experience asthma attacks. There’s also the risk of developing aspergillosis or fungal pneumonia. Or, in severe cases, pulmonary hemorrhaging. That’s when your child’s lungs weaken from exposure to toxins produced by mold spores. 

As scary as that sounds, the good news is that this won’t happen right away. But, it doesn’t take all that long for symptoms — even severe ones — to set in. 

Related: Mold And Biotoxin Illness At Home

For instance, that case study we cited above follows a 40-day-old baby who developed severe symptoms after two weeks of fungus and two weeks of exposure to tobacco smoke. 

So, while you don’t want to freak out over every cough and sniffle, it’s also important to recognize the signs of mold exposure in babies and determine if there are other signs of a mold problem in your home. 

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Four Signs Of Mold Exposure In Babies

Babies often show clear symptoms of mold exposure. But, those symptoms are similar to what you’d find with other pediatric health issues, such as a cold or bronchitis, or a rash. So, it’s important to also look for general signs of mold in your home if your baby has:

  1. Stuffy, runny nose
  2. Itchy, watery, or red eyes
  3. Shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing
  4. Rashes or skin irritation

What To Do If Your Baby Shows Signs Of Mold Exposure

Contact your doctor right away if you suspect a mold exposure problem in your baby — especially if they have a fever or trouble breathing. Stay with a friend or family member for a few days and see if the symptoms disappear. And look for signs of mold in your home.

If it seems like there’s only a tiny amount of mold in your home, cleaning with bleach may solve the problem. For larger infestations, you’ll need mold remediation.

How To Reduce Mold Exposure For Your Baby At Home

Here are some easy, DIY steps to reduce mold growth and exposure in your home:

  • Control Humidity
  • Declutter
  • Fully Dry Laundry
  • Avoid Dampness

Humility, or moisture in the air, creates excellent breeding grounds for mold spores. The same goes for damp cellars or even carpets and rugs that get wet (particularly in or near bathrooms)

Decluttering eliminates dark, out-of-the-way places for mold to grow without you noticing. Think in boxes, behind books, or under piles of clothes somewhere.

And, speaking of clothes, make sure all your laundry is completely dry. Mold spores can and will grow on clothes if they’re still damp when you put them away.

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Mold Risks WIth Ductless Mini Splits

Ductless mini splits provide excellent and energy-efficient heating and cooling. They’re also very popular for nurseries because they’re so whisper-quiet, and you can control the temperature in that one room down to the degree. The downside? They often end up full of mold spores that circulate into the air your baby breathes.

Read More: Healthy Indoor Air Quality Is Crucial For People With Asthma

Here’s the problem: The inside of the air handler in the room is dark (no lights in there), warm (heat in the air plus warmth generated by the electronics), and moist (water vapor that condenses during the dehumidification process).

Those are the exact conditions for mold spores to thrive. And, since you can’t take apart the system, you can’t clean the spots where those spores are most likely to grow: on the condenser coil and behind the barrel fans. 

Here’s a picture of a dirty coil we came across in a recent cleaning:

A Ductless System Can Get Moldy If Not Taken Care Of

We often encounter situations like this, especially with systems more than a year old. 

Fortunately, our process, tools, and non-toxic cleaning agents have been specially designed to flush out all mold spores, plus dirt, bacteria, and other contaminants, from your air handlers and heat pump. 

Related: How Often Should A Mini Split Be Cleaned?

To prove that point, here’s a photo of a coil we started cleaning. We stopped halfway through to show the homeowner our progress:

You Can See How Dirty A Mini Split System Can Get

You can see for yourself just how much grime and organic contamination (including mold) we can get rid of in one fast, easy, non-invasive visit. 

If you’re worried about mold in your mini split or are concerned about the air quality in your Treasure Valley home, call HydroKleen208 at (208) 779-5596. We’re happy to answer all your questions and help you decide how to make your home healthier for the whole family.

Schedule A Ductless Deep Cleaning

Why Does My Mini-Split Smell Like Cheese Or Dirty Socks?

by | Mar 25, 2022 | blog

Why Does My Mini Split Smell Musty Or Like Cheese Or Dirty Socks?

Why Does My Mini-Split Smell Like Cheese Or Dirty Socks?

A mini split giving off a musty smell or an odor like cheese or dirty socks most likely has a mold problem. Spores grow inside the air handler and spread through your home as the system circulates them with the air it’s heating or cooling.

If you’ve ever heard of “Dirty Sock Syndrome,” that’s what we’re talking about here. And, yes, it’s so widespread that it has a name.

And while Dirty Sock Syndrome applies to this problem with any sort of heating and cooling system, we’re here to tell you that, unfortunately, it’s prevalent with ductless systems.

But, the good news is that there’s a quick, easy fix. A mini split deep cleaning can usually take care of this problem in one visit.

That’s our specialty here at HydroKleen208: Restoring ductless systems, so they work just as well as the day they were installed. You’d be surprised at just how dirty the insides of these systems get — and how well they’ll work once you get them cleaned out.

But, we’ll get to all that later on. First, we’ll talk about why ductless systems are so susceptible to mold problems and how to spot an issue. Then, we’ll discuss how to address it.

And, if you have any questions about the ductless system or indoor air quality in your Treasure Valley home or business, call us at (208) 779-5596 for a free consultation.

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Why (And How) Ductless Systems Get Mold In Them

It turns out that mini splits — particularly the air handlers — are perfect breeding grounds for mold.

There’s no light in there, but there’s plenty of warmth from the heat transfer process, plus moisture from the air and from the dehumidification process in the summer.

Those are the exact optimal conditions for mold growth. Then, to make matters worse, these units are really tough to clean.

Mold On Ductless Coils

Even if you’ve only lifted the front panel on your air handlers to clean the filter, you can get a sense of how packed everything is in there. And, in particular, you’ll see the coil: that blue block with all the tiny ridges on it.

That’s the main offender when it comes to mold.

Mold spores, along with bacteria and other microbial contaminants, settle in between those tiny ridges and cultivate. Since that’s where the heat transfer occurs, there’s plenty of warmth and moisture.

Other areas ripe for problems are behind the barrel fans or near the drain line if there’s a problem.

Related: How To Spot And Fix Mini Split Condensate Drain Line Clog

These problems take root in just about any system. But, the infestations get even worse if the system wasn’t installed properly. We start to see water building up in the air handler or leaking behind the walls. 

How Much Does A Cleaning Cost?

Cleaning Challenges

What To Expect For Your HydroKleen Mini Split Cleaning

Not only does mold grow quickly inside these units, but they’re also tough to clean out. For instance, we mentioned the barrel fans and the condensate line – you can’t even see those without taking the air handler apart! And, there’s more in there as well.

So, until recently, the only way to clean this stuff was to have a professional disassemble every component. Then, they’d have to scrub each piece manually.

It’s a delicate, time-consuming process. Each one could take hours. As a result, it’s usually hard to find an HVAC contractor that will do it. The price would be prohibitive when you factor in the labor hours.

Then, there’s still no guarantee they can eliminate the problem! Look at the coil again. Now, imagine having to scrub in between every one of those tiny fins without bending any.

You’ll get some cleaning when you get a tune-up or regular maintenance. But that only scratches the surface.

Dirty Sock Syndrome

All these factors lead to what’s called “Dirty Sock Syndrome.” All that junk building up in your system — especially mold — gives off a stale, cheesy smell. Then, the odor circulates through your house as the air flows through the system. 

It can — and does — occur in forced-air systems (think furnaces and central air). But, it’s much more common with mini splits. 

At best, it’s an inconvenience (and maybe a little embarrassing when you have people over). At worst, it can make you feel sick. 

Related: Six Telltale Signs Your Ductless System Needs To Be Cleaned ASAP

Mini Split Deep Cleaning

How Often Should Your Mini Split Be Cleaned?A general HVAC tune-up and cleaning will eliminate dirty sock syndrome if you’re lucky. But, if you have a ductless system, it’s essential to add a dedicated mini split deep cleaning to your strategy. In fact, these cleanings are important even if you don’t notice a bad smell yet.

Related: How Often Should A Mini Split Be Cleaned?

We mentioned before how difficult it is to clean these systems properly. That’s if you’re doing it manually. HydroKleen208 has a specialized process that makes flushing out these systems easy and effective. 

In this article, you can read more about how we work and get a behind-the-scenes look at an actual cleaning. 

The bottom line is that our parent company, HydroKleen Global, developed specialized tools, processes, and non-toxic cleaning agents that can reach into every nook and cranny in your system and clean it out. 

That includes the air handlers along with the heat pump outside. 

Since we do it without taking anything apart, it’s much less expensive than a conventional HVAC visit. And, our finely-calibrated equipment uses just the right amount of pressure to wash everything without causing damage. 

Related: What Does It Cost To Clean A Heat Pump? 

This doesn’t take the place of regular maintenance or tune-ups. Instead, it works along with those services to help keep you healthy and keep your system running great. 

If you live or work in Kuna, ID, or anywhere in Idaho’s Treasure Valley, you can call HydroKleen208 to learn more about our mini split cleaning. We serve homes and businesses from Boise Metro and as far north as Cascade. Click below or call (208) 779-5596 to set your appointment.

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