The whole point of air conditioning is to keep your indoor air pleasant. Ideally, a properly working AC unit keeps the temperature, moisture, and airborne particles of your indoor space in check, but there’s also a possibility that your system might accidentally aggravate certain issues in the air you breathe. So, if someone in your household starts sneezing or feeling stuffy when your AC cranks up, it’s worth taking a closer look at the situation.
Yes, there’s a chance that an improperly maintained AC unit
may actually be making your indoor air worse – at least, when it comes to allergens. In one way or another, a number of hidden impurities in the system can cause your system to actively spread particles while it’s doing its job. Let’s take a look at how you can recognize and address this particular issue.
Why Your AC System Might Aggravate Your Allergies
You may not immediately realize it, but indoor air can be
around 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. In some cases, it can be as much as 100 times nastier. That’s a lot, and what’s worse, the pollutants can come from a whole bunch of sources. From an allergenic point of view, things like dust, mold spores, pollen, and pet dander might be stuffing up your nose. This can become a problem if your AC unit’s ability to filter the air as it circulates it isn’t on point. As such, a badly maintained unit can end up just spreading all that stuff around instead of removing the allergens from the air.
Changing Your Air Filters Regularly Can Prevent Allergen Issues
There are a few potential reasons why your HVAC system can potentially make your allergies worse.One likely issue is that the unit’s air filters aren’t working properly. The filters are responsible for catching particles like allergens as they pass through the system, and thus removing them from the air circulation. Since changing air filters is something that doesn’t require a professional, your first course of action when checking your system should be to make sure that the ones in your unit are clean, right for the unit in question, and properly installed. Remember to change the filters regularly, and be sure to check that the filter has the Asthma & Allergy Friendly certification, AAFA.
Using Your Eyes and Nose to Reveal the Source of the Problem
If your air filters are in working order and the problem persists, it’s time to use your eyes and nose to inspect your system closer. Simply smelling the air near the AC can provide clues about the issue at hand, especially when it starts running. If there’s a damp smell, the AC unit’s coils may have a layer of mold in them. If you detect dust, it suggests that there’s a dirt buildup in the vents (or the aforementioned filters, if you haven’t checked them yet). You can also take a close look at the vertical slats in your air vents, a.k.a. louvers. If there’s a notable buildup of dust in them, there’s a good chance that your ducts are in need of cleaning.
How to Prevent Your AC From Causing Allergy Issues
Your AC is doing its best, but if there are lots of particles or clutter around the house, the system may simply find it too difficult to stay on top of the game. As such, clean the space on a regular basis, and make sure that the area around the vents is clear. You can also help your HVAC system’s job with an
additional air purifier, which will help reduce the amount of allergens in your indoor air.
Of course, the best way to make sure that your AC unit is working as intended is to take care of it.
Scheduling regular maintenance will help identify and address all sorts of issues, including allergy-aggravating ones, and prevent them before they become issues in the first place.
