When temperatures and humidity soar, millions of Americans turn on their air conditioners to chill out. Butunless your unit is cleaned regularly, your AC could be spreading more than just cool air.
Runny noses and other flu-type symptoms are natural responses to the kind of unnatural coldness air conditioners create. It’s not just a matter of temperature; central air conditioning units usually aren’t fitted with a humidifying function. This can cause the air to be dry, which in turn causes the lining of the nose and mouth to become dry and cracked leading to among other symptoms, scratchy throats and nose bleeds.
Even worse and more difficult to control is mold. The most dangerous mold is the kind you can’t see. If mold goes undetected, it can eventually spread throughout the room, exposing everyone in the vicinity to health problems. It’s no surprise that Legionnaire-s Disease, the flu- type bacteria that thrives in air conditioning systems is on the rise.
If you suspect your air conditioner is getting you sick, hire a professional to check hoses and ducts for mold spores. If mold is found, then a thorough and professional cleaning is necessary. Just vacuuming and brushing isn’t adequate because it only loosens the mold so when the air conditioner is in action, the spores fly around causing further health problems. Make sure the job is done correctly by a professional with the use of certified chemical solutions that contain anti-fungi and anti-bacterial properties. Ideally, filters should be cleaned once a month.
