AC air handler mold cleaning in Miami homes and condos

We clean mold in the air handler closet, on the outside of the cabinet and the accessible panel surfaces, around supply and return vents, and on the drywall and floor around the unit. We also dry the closet and fix the moisture issue that caused it, such as a soaked platform or wet wall.

Refrigerant work, electrical repairs, blower motors, coil replacement and anything inside the sealed refrigerant system go to an HVAC contractor. We say so plainly at the start, and we coordinate with your HVAC company so the cleanup and the repair line up.

An air conditioner pulls moisture out of the air and sends it down a condensate drain line. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that when that drain clogs, the unit stops removing humidity and the extra moisture can discolor walls or carpet.

In a small closet with little airflow, a damp floor and a cold metal cabinet are all mold needs. The return air pulls air from that closet, so the smell moves through the house too.

• Clogged or sagging condensate drain line
• Overflowing or rusted drain pan
• Cold cabinet surfaces sweating in a humid closet
• Gaps in the return that pull in damp closet air
• Wet drywall or wood platform under the unit

Black spotting around ceiling vents is very common in Miami. It often happens when cold supply air meets warm humid air at the vent face, and moisture settles on the grille and the ceiling around it.

We remove and clean the grilles, clean the ceiling around them, and check for leaks at the duct boot above. If the drywall around the vent is wet or stained through, that section is cut out and replaced.

Condensate water is Category 2 gray water, so soaked drywall, carpet pad and particleboard platforms around the air handler are usually removed rather than dried in place. Wood framing and block are cleaned and dried.

We run air movers and a dehumidifier in the closet until the framing and floor read dry. If the leak spread under flooring in the hallway or bedroom next to it, those areas are checked and dried as well.

The most common fix is simple: keep the condensate line clear. Many HVAC contractors flush it on a routine service visit, and a float switch shuts the unit off before the pan overflows.

Keeping the closet door closed and sealed, and the indoor humidity below 60 percent as the EPA recommends, also helps. We will tell you what we found so your HVAC company can address the equipment side.