Biofilms in HVAC Systems: What You Need to Know

Failure to maintain heating and cooling systems doesn’t just impair the energy efficiency of the units and cause air contamination inside the home or business; it also causes malfunctions that can make early replacement of the HVAC unit necessary. The inside of an HVAC system is often dark, wet and cold, and such an environment promotes the growth of microbial organisms such as biofilm.

In today’s blog post, Tyler Heating, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration LLC, your local AC and water heater repair pros, discusses what you need to know about biofilm in HVAC systems.

About Biofilm

A biofilm is any group of microorganisms in which the cells latch on to each other and adhere to both living and non-living surfaces. It forms when free-floating microbes attach to a surface, anchoring themselves more permanently using their hair-like appendages called pili for adhesion. As more microbes attach, the biofilm begins to grow, changing in shape and size. Dispersion allows it to spread and invade new surfaces.

Warm, moist environments, as well as non-shedding wet surfaces, provide the best conditions for biofilm to grow. Once it builds up and multiplies inside HVAC systems, it can affect heat flow across the surface and increase the chances of corrosion.

Dealing with Biofilm in HVAC Units

The parts of an HVAC system where biofilm is most likely to grow include condensate pans and air conditioning coils. Established biofilms can disperse airborne particles throughout the unit, making them more difficult to remove. A reputable AC repair company can perform a thorough inspection of the system to check if it’s spread to other interior components.

Routine maintenance is still the best solution for preventing the spread of biofilms in HVAC systems. It’s best to attack them early while they can still be removed using detergent. Otherwise, corrosive cleaning agents will have to be used, which can harm the coils’ fins.

For your heating and cooling needs, turn to Tyler Heating, Air Conditioning, Refrigeration LLC. We’ll offer thoughtful, cost-effective solutions for your home. Whether you want to find out about the cost of AC repair or determine if you need a replacement unit, you can expect our pros to happily assist you.

Call us today at (203) 378-4700 or fill out our contact form to request a free estimate.