If you’re a Florida homeowner in the Brevard County area who suffers from allergies, then you may have read how your air conditioning system can make your allergies better. While it’s true that your air conditioning system is one of your biggest lines of defense when it comes to lessening your allergy symptoms, your system can also aggravate your symptoms if it’s not properly maintained. Crazy, right?
Lots of homeowners come to us asking if their air conditioning can make them sick or cause symptoms like a sore throat. In short, yes it can, but don’t worry just yet. Read on to learn the causes of your AC getting you sick, how a lack of AC maintenance can contribute to feeling ill, and what you can do to ensure the air quality in your home is healthy.
How Your AC Can Cause a Sore Throat
There are two main ways your AC can cause a sore throat, including:
Too Little Humidity
Sometimes, your AC can cause you to get a sore throat due to removing too much humidity from within your home. While removing humidity can lessen the chances of bacteria and mold growth in your home (increasing indoor air quality in the process), it can sometimes lead to you and your family feeling more parched than usual. Some may even experience a slightly sore throat along with dryness and itchiness.
Whenever you turn your AC on, your system works to remove hot air to the outside of your home, remove humidity from the air, recycle cool air, and provide fresh airflow. During this process, moisture is constantly being removed from the air. While this is typically welcome among Florida homeowners (hello, Florida humidity), you may notice that some rooms are very dry and that it can cause your throat to feel irritated.
Poor Indoor Air Quality
While too little humidity is one of the causes of your AC getting you sick, there is another more serious reason – and that is poor indoor air quality. When the air quality in your home isn’t healthy (ie: properly ventilated and free of excess pollutants), you may notice you don’t feel as good as you’d like to.
Fortunately, there are lots of steps you can take to ensure your HVAC system is improving your home’s indoor air quality, rather than lessening it. The following are three of the biggest factors that can cause your AC to get you sick and how you can address the issue
The AC vents are closed: If you run your air conditioning system with the air vents closed, the air can’t properly circulate throughout your home. Over time, this creates the stagnant environment within your ductwork which can become a breeding ground for pollutants, leading to allergy symptoms like a sore throat. To prevent this, we always recommend keeping the AC vents open.
Your HVAC system hasn’t been properly maintained: When your system does not receive adequate AC maintenance, it can’t effectively filter out debris from your home. Skipping out on routine AC maintenance also puts excess stress on your system causing it to operate less efficiently, and ultimately resulting in poor indoor air quality.
We always recommend that Florida homeowners change their air filter on a regular basis and have a professional perform a tune-up once a year. When you ensure your HVAC system is properly maintained, you will experience improved indoor air quality and improved airflow which can lessen the unpleasant symptoms associated with a lack of AC maintenance like a sore throat
Your HVAC system wasn’t properly installed: If your air conditioner isn’t the right size for your home or if it wasn’t installed properly, it may be running inefficiently, causing reduced indoor air quality and airflow. As you know, this can lead to an increase in indoor air pollutants and less-than-favorable symptoms like a sore throat. If you think your AC may have been installed improperly, we recommend scheduling an appointment with a trusted HVAC technician so they can perform a thorough inspection.
Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality
At Colman Heating & Air, your family’s comfort is only second to your safety. That’s why we want to help you live in ultimate comfort without sacrificing your health. If you’re worried about the air in your home, contact us today. Our experienced technicians can help you find the right solution to improve your home’s indoor air quality. Don’t let your family suffer from dirty air and the sore throat and other symptoms that can come along with it. Contact us today at (321) 269-4565 or schedule an appointment online at your convenience.
