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Is my air conditioner making me sick?

What can I do if it is?

People often have concerns over whether their air conditioning is causing ill effects. The question "Is my air conditioner making me sick?" is one that is frequently asked and debated.

The fact is that if your air conditioner is not regularly service and maintained, it could expel a lot of nasties into the air that can have a detrimental effect on your health.

However, if you look after your air conditioning system properly, it will also look after you.

And when it comes to living in Australia, air conditioning is vital in combatting hot, humid summers and the cold snaps we get in Winter. So, we must find ways to make our air conditioning work for us healthily and hygienically.

The good news is that it's easy to achieve.
 

How can my air conditioning make me sick?

An essential part of an air conditioner's make up is its filter. If the filter is left untouched for months or even years, it accumulates many harmful pathogens, allergens, dust mites and other particles. These get blasted into your home or workplace when the air pushes through the filter.

An air conditioner is also a moist environment. It uses condensers and water to cool air. As such, it can be the perfect breeding ground for dangerous, toxic moulds.

When these pathogens, particles and moulds make their way into the air you breathe, they can cause respiratory conditions, worsen allergies, incite asthma attacks and breathing difficulties. When hazardous moulds are inhaled, they can cause deadly diseases.

It sounds terrifying. But before you go switching your air conditioner off or ripping your system out, keep reading. There is a remarkably simple solution to this problem.

What can I do to stop my air conditioner from making me sick?

It's simple. You can contact your local air conditioning service company, and they can schedule regular cleaning, maintenance and replacements of parts that have the potential to cause harm.

This is one of the core services offered by Beaumont Air Conditioning Solutions. And you'd be surprised how cost-effective it is.

Just by regularly having your filters cleaned and replaced, you're taking a big step to improving your air quality.

Do all these things, and you can enjoy the cooling and warming effects of your air conditioner with complete confidence and peace of mind.

How does my air conditioner improve my health?

A well-maintained, optimally functioning air conditioner can have many health benefits.

Filters in air conditioners that are cleaned and replaced as needed help reduce air and particle pollution that would otherwise enter your home. This includes things like bushfire smoke, car pollution and pollution from manufacturing plants.

The fact that you would typically have all your windows and doors closed when operating your air conditioning also means that you are shutting out even more pollutants and allergens.

Filtering out pollutants and irritants is extremely important to people with emphysema, asthma, and allergies. It is often safer for them to stay indoors with the air conditioning than venture out into heavily fouled air.

Air conditioning also helps to combat sickness from heatstroke and heatstroke related deaths. Sadly, in today's world, these tragic events are becoming more common due to climate change.
 

Can't I catch the flu through air conditioning systems?

According to Health NSW , "Flu is spread by viruses floating in tiny droplets from a sick person's cough or sneeze. It is also spread when those droplets from a sick person land on a surface or object, which is then touched by someone else who picks up the virus on their hands. The flu is not spread through air conditioning or ventilation systems."

So, if you do catch the flu at work or a friend's house, it is likely because you have had close contact with them. The flu is not being pumped through multi-storey office blocks via the air conditioning.