An air conditioning unit is a great way to keep cool and regulate your temperature, but did you know they may actually be the cause of health problems. Without proper maintenance and cleaning, you can end up doing more harm than good with your AC. This is why it’s essential that you know how to care for your unit well.
How does an air conditioning unit work anyway?
Simply put, an air conditioning unit sucks out the hot air either from the outside or from the inside and then runs it through cooling pipes . It then releases the cool air into the area the air conditioning unit is intended to cool down. An air conditioning unit basically cools and circulates the air.
The system has been a mainstay for interior climate control for decades. Since the air is being cycled, however, there could be some problems that occur during the circulation process. For the most part, these issues arise when the filters are dirty or if the air conditioning unit is not working properly. So exactly what diseases can you get from an air conditioning unit in poor condition?
Problems Caused By Air Conditioning Units
While air conditioning units don’t usually pose a health risk to people, they become problematic once the air they circulate contains bacteria, allergens, or viruses. Most of the diseases that people can get from air conditioning units are those related to the respiratory system, but there are also other conditions to watch out for.
One of the common problems that can occur within an air conditioning unit is that the pipes and the filters begin to develop mold and mildew. This is common because there’s a lot of moisture that occurs within an air conditioning unit. While this can be harmless, some molds can cause serious respiratory problems.
To make matters worse, mold spores can multiply and spread easily. Once your air conditioning unit begins to circulate mold spores, you may see your house becoming infested with the mold. One of the common signs of a mold problem is that the air becomes humid and there may be a lingering earthy smell.
Another problem that can occur within your air conditioning unit is that the filter no longer does its job right. This can be because there’s a tear in the filter or it can also be because the filter already has too much debris on it, so it can no longer block solid materials. The 2019/2020 bushfires left so much soot in the air that air conditioning units from all over NSW became clogged.
The filter is one of the most important parts of an air conditioning unit. It’s a lifesaver for people who are allergic to aircons and the allergens that they can circulate inside the house. Aside from triggering respiratory problems caused by allergens, an air conditioning unit can also trigger allergic reactions in the skin as well.
The main problem with air conditioning units is that you never really see the problem until it’s too late. This is air after all. You can’t see if the unit is circulating air that’s already filled with bacteria, allergens, and viruses. As such, it’s a must to make sure that your unit is properly working at all times.
Air Conditioning Unit Maintenance 101
The goal of air conditioning unit maintenance isn’t to just make sure that your appliance lasts as long as possible. Maintenance is also integral in ensuring that your unit is working well and is not doing anything that compromises your health. There are many things you can do to ensure that your air conditioning unit is working well.
You first need to check out the filter. Have an expert check your filter , for tears, build-up of dirt, or a buildup of mold. If the filter can’t be cleaned adequately or repaired, you should purchase a new filter for your air conditioning unit instead.
Air filters are graded in a system called Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value or MERV. Their MERV system will tell how well a filter does its job and what kind of air pollutants it can block. These are the types of filters you can commonly find.
- Spun fiberglass filters - These have a MERV rating of 1-4. They are cheap and disposable and are not really fit for long-term use. In terms of protection, these can catch 80% of particles around 50 microns or larger.
- Electrostatic filters - The MERV rating of these tilters range from 2 to 10. Again, these are disposable filters but they can last longer than spun fiberglass filters depending on the brand you buy.
- Disposable pleated high MERV filters - The standard among high-end air conditioning units. These are highly efficient filters that can trap 0.3 micron particles which are usually the size of bacteria and viruses.
- High-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filters: In terms of protection, HEPA filters are at the top of the chain. They can filter out almost every pollutant that passes through the air conditioning unit. Of course, HEPA filters are also more expensive.
- Another important maintenance tip is to inspect and clean your air conditioning unit regularly. Experts suggest that your unit should be checked at least twice a year, or more often depending on how often the unit is used. In the summer, you might want to check it regularly.
The filter should be the focus of your cleaning efforts. You should call a professional if your unit begins showcasing signs of any issues that aren’t solved by cleaning the filter, such as a humming or whirring sound, or the unit no longer cooling the room as efficiently as it did before.
Air conditioning units can make your life easier but they can cause serious health problems if they are not maintained. It’s better to make sure that your air conditioner unit is working as efficiently as possible. Nothing is more important in your home than your health. Regular maintenance might seem costly but compared to our health the cost pales in comparison.