Can Air Conditioning Make You Sick?
Most people are so used to air conditioning that they don’t think twice about it. However, you may start questioning your air conditioner if you feel sick and have ruled everything else out. So, can air conditioning make you sick?
Air conditioning can make you sick, as it can circulate existing contaminants, like pollen and dust, in your home. If your air ducts are moldy, your AC can spread the spores throughout your house and make you feel sick. Legionnaires’ disease, or air conditioning sickness, is the worst-case scenario, as it’s a type of pneumonia.
While Legionnaires’ disease is rare, you must be aware of the risks, as it can be fatal in extreme cases. Follow along as we explore everything you must know about your air conditioner and its role in your health.
What is Air Conditioning Sickness?
Legionnaires' disease, or air-conditioning sickness, is a severe form of pneumonia. This condition comes from inhaling Legionella bacteria, which are typically found in HVAC systems and hot tubs. Symptoms of air conditioning sickness include fever, aches, headache, chronic fatigue, and cough, among others.
While this illness is quite rare, it is dangerous, so you must take it seriously. Legionella bacteria are present in poorly maintained HVAC systems and hot tubs. Of course, that doesn’t mean everyone who falls behind on HVAC maintenance will get Legionnaires’ disease. Because it can be fatal, you must visit a hospital or clinic if you become symptomatic.
How Can Air Conditioning Make You Sick?
Your air conditioner can make you feel sick even if you don’t get Legionnaires’ disease. The other health problems you may experience because of your AC are typically nowhere near as serious as Legionnaires’ disease. That said, understanding how your AC can affect your health is important.
Mold Exposure
Many people who feel like their house is making them sick eventually learn that mold is to blame. Mold can trigger many uncomfortable symptoms, including headache, sore throat, dizziness, congestion, coughing, and wheezing. However, it’s easy to mistake these symptoms for seasonal allergies and contagious bugs.
Many people don’t suspect their AC to be the cause, but it makes sense when you think about how your HVAC system works. It includes air ducts that experience temperature fluctuations year-round. Moisture gets trapped in air ducts and sits on dirt, dust, debris, and loose hair. This creates the perfect recipe for mold, which can then spread throughout your house when your AC runs. Mold can also grow in and around AC units, as it produces so much water during operation.
Dirty Filter
Your HVAC system’s air filter and furnace filter are important parts of your home’s air quality. These filters trap debris, such as dust, dirt, pollen, and dander, to protect you and your home. Without a filter, the debris would consistently exit your return vents, creating messes throughout the house. If you don’t replace your air filter, it will become caked with pollen, dead skin cells, dust, and other debris.
All the debris your air filter should catch will instead circulate throughout your house. This can easily make you feel sick, especially if you have asthma or are prone to dust and pollen allergies. Dirty filters can also make your air ducts get dirtier, which will impact your home’s indoor air quality, and eventually, you can feel sick even if you aren’t prone to allergies. The best way to avoid this is to replace your filter every 30 to 90 days, or as needed when it gets dirty.
Dry Air
Does your AC make you feel uncomfortable on hot days when it runs more than usual? If so, it may be because air xconditioning can dry the air out significantly when it runs frequently. ACs remove moisture from warm air as it moves over the evaporator coil. This can significantly reduce your home’s humidity and produce uncomfortable symptoms mimicking illness.
For example, you may experience a dry throat or nose and suffer nosebleeds. This can also contribute to dry skin and congestion. You’re more likely to experience these symptoms if your AC reduces the indoor humidity level below 30%. In that case, you may need to use a humidifier to maintain a 30% to 50% humidity level in your home. Be careful, though, as excessive humidity can also make you feel sick.
Neglected Air Ducts
Air ducts are an important part of your home’s HVAC system, and, ultimately, your comfort. The air filter and ductwork take on the brunt of the dirt, dust, and debris permeating the air in your home. That said, you’re more likely to experience illness symptoms if your air ducts are dirty, compared to your filter. This is because you can replace your filter every few months, but most people go years without cleaning their ductwork.
HVAC professionals recommend cleaning your air ducts every 3 to 5 years, but many people neglect it.Pollen, dander, dust, mold, and mildew can accumulate in your air ducts, then spread when your AC or furnace runs. Dirty ductwork is the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew, which can make you feel sick. Even without mold, the dust, dust mites, pollen, and dander in your ductwork can cause respiratory illness and other symptoms. Schedule an air duct cleaning right away if you haven’t done so in over five years, then keep up with it.
Clogged Condensate Line
Air conditioners generate lots of moisture, and condensate lines remove it. However, dirt, dust, loose hair, algae, mold, and debris can clog your condensate line. Once this happens, it may back up, create a big mess, and contribute to symptoms of feeling ill. That’s because algae and other contaminants will pool and eventually release into the air. A clogged condensate line is one of the biggest causes of “Sick House Syndrome”, which is more common than you may think.
Symptoms include headache, congestion, runny nose, dry skin, and wheezing, and many people mistake them for seasonal allergies. You can also experience chronic fatigue, confusion, and dizziness after ingesting these contaminants. You can unclog a condensate line with distilled white vinegar, then flush it with hot water. That said, it’s worth calling an HVAC service if you’re not comfortable doing the job yourself.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can be found in most homes, and they’re among the biggest indoor pollutants. Adhesives, varnishes, paint, aerosol sprays, and commercial cleaning chemicals typically release VOCs. The more commercial cleaners, paints, sprays, and adhesives in your home, the more VOCs will fill the air. This is bad enough when the air is relatively still, but it gets worse when the air circulates.
Your AC and furnace can circulate VOCs, making you feel sick. High VOC exposure can cause dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea, and more. If these symptoms subside when you leave the house and return when you’re home, your house is probably to blame. Cut back on products with harsh chemicals, avoid using aerosol sprays, and use low-VOC products. That way, your AC won’t circulate harmful gases and make you feel sick at home.
Summing It Up
Air conditioning can make you sick if the condensate line is clogged or the water contains harmful bacteria. You may also feel sick if your air filter is clogged and your air ducts are dirty, as allergens will continually circulate. It’s a good idea to schedule a mold inspection, as your HVAC system may have spread mold spores throughout your house.
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Nick Durante is a professional writer with a primary focus on home improvement. When he is not writing about home improvement or taking on projects around the house, he likes to read and create art. He is always looking towards the newest trends in home improvement.
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