You may wonder why whenever you get home and turn on the air conditioner, you suddenly start sneezing. Perhaps you come home feeling fine and after half an hour relaxing with your AC on, you have a dry throat and streaming eyes. How can a household appliance make you sick when you were absolutely fine before? There are various reasons why your AC might be making you sneeze or causing other symptoms and allergic reactions. In this article, we will explain exactly why your AC can cause these problems and how you can solve the issue.
Dry Air
The first thing you need to remember is that the symptoms you are experiencing are often just your body’s natural reaction to dry air. As one of the most must-have household appliances in hot, humid countries, air conditioners are used to remove moisture from the air in order to dehumidify your home and make a more pleasant environment. When the air gets too dry for your respiratory system to absorb however, your body will start producing more mucus. This often results in sneezing, a dry throat, and a runny or blocked nose.
This is a non-allergic reaction of your body called Vasomotor Rhinitis and it can also be triggered by perfumes, spicy foods, or strong cooking odors. A well-designed AC unit should automatically create the optimal humidity level in your home. If you are constantly experiencing bad moisture control, it is likely that your AC’s humidity function is playing up. The effects of dry air are not serious and should not last very long and you can use a nasal spray or install a humidifier in your home if it is only a minor issue.
Allergic Reactions
Another reason why air conditioners can make you sneeze is that they trigger allergic reactions. As well as sneezing, you may experience other symptoms of allergies like hay fever or a dust allergy which are triggered by pollen, dust, and animal dander, which your AC is circulating around your home because it is not working properly. As well as cooling your inside environment, your AC is supposed to filter out all of these harmful irritants, but when it stops doing its job, it actually works to spread them around your house.
First and foremost, pay attention to your air filter. This is the part of your AC that is supposed to remove all of the irritants that can cause an allergic reaction and other respiratory problems. It may be that the filters just need a thorough clean as they can easily get clogged which will result in the AC circulating contaminated air around your home. If cleaning the filters is not effective, it is probably time to replace your filters. In that case, you might want to try custom air filters available from Filter King. This should be done regularly to ensure that they are working properly and that the air inside your home remains free of contaminants.
Dirty Ducts
Another issue that can stop your AC from working properly is dirty ducts. If it’s been a while since you had your ducts cleaned and you are constantly suffering from the symptoms of an allergic reaction, make sure to check your ducts and see if they are triggering your reaction. If your ducts are dirty or are not functioning properly, the air inside your house can end up many times more polluted than the air outside as your ducts can contain all kinds of dust, dirt, pet dander, and even dead bugs.
All of this will be circulated around your home as the air flows through your ducts and this has obvious negative results on your health. Do not wait until you notice musty smells in your house to get your ducts cleaned. They should be cleaned at least 2 times a year by professionals if you want to live in a healthy environment.
Worn-Out AC Units
Old, worn-out AC units naturally stop working as effectively as they used to, especially if they are not regularly cleaned and serviced. Make sure that your AC units undergo professional maintenance twice a year from a qualified AC and HVAC expert. They will effectively remove all of the dust, debris and dirt stuck inside the working units and will also repair and replace any parts that are affecting the unit’s performance.
Follow the information in this guide and you should be able to solve the health issues being caused by your AC. Make sure to regularly clean your AC unit and have it professionally inspected at least twice a year and you will be able to create the perfect environment inside your home. Wear and tear are unavoidable. In order to stop struggling with your itchy nose, enjoy the best summertime with a cool indoor atmosphere, get your AC cleaned and maintained on a regular basis.