Your home’s air conditioner is supposed to help you feel cooler and more comfortable indoors when the outdoor Florida heat increases, but you might end up feeling physically worse when you run your AC. There are different reasons why you might feel sick when running your AC, and some causes may not be related directly to the air conditioner itself.
In fact, simply running an AC system usually won’t make most people feel sick, but low-quality indoor air can cause illness symptoms when it circulates while the AC is working. Dirty filters and other HVAC components along with mold growth often contribute to poor indoor air quality. Poor ventilation and excess humidity are other causes that generally aren’t related directly to the AC itself.
Quick Takeaways
- Dirty HVAC systems often worsen indoor air quality
- Mold and biological growth often result from high humidity
- Dust, pollen and irritants can circulate because of dirty air filters
- Poor ventilation can trap stale indoor air
- Indoor air quality services can improve comfort and air cleanliness
Can Your AC Actually Make You Sick?
While it’s possible that your AC can make you sick, the problem usually isn’t tied to the cold air itself. Poor indoor air quality is usually the culprit, and your symptoms can become more noticeable when your AC circulates the air throughout your home.
These symptoms may include:
- Allergies
- Headaches
- Coughing and/or sneezing
- Sinus irritation
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
Dirty Air Filters Can Circulate Irritants
When an air filter is dirty and overdue for a change, the dust, pollen and pet dander that have been trapped by the filter can become airborne particles that circulate throughout your home when you run your AC. A dirty air filter can also reduce filtration and create other airflow problems.
Changing an AC filter regularly can prevent these problems, but how often you should change yours depends on the type and number of filters your AC unit has. Pleated air filters may last up to 90 days, but fiberglass filters usually need to be replaced every 30 days. If you use your AC a lot or have pets in your home, you might need to change yours more frequently.
Excess Humidity Can Encourage Mold Growth
Like many other parts of Florida, Clearwater is known for its humid climate, and this creates ideal conditions for mold, mildew and other microbial growth to flourish. Mold spores and other particles from these microbes can get into the air and negatively affect indoor air quality. Your air conditioner may blow out more of these microbe particles and cause you to feel sick if they’re growing inside or around the unit.
If you notice musty odors, damp air or condensation in your home, you likely have problems with ventilation and not your AC itself. Mold and other microbe exposure can also cause symptoms like breathing difficulties, skin irritation and digestive troubles.
Dirty Evaporator Coils and Drain Lines Can Affect Air Quality
When dirt gets trapped and builds up inside AC evaporator coils and drain lines, it can inhibit air circulation and make the indoor air dirtier. Clogged evaporator coils and drain lines also provide more opportunities for microbial growth and condensation, which may cause musty odors that make you feel sick.
Poor Ventilation Can Trap Stale Air
If your home has poor ventilation, the stale air that circulates from your AC might lead you to believe that your AC is the actual cause of any physical symptoms you experience when your unit is running. The stale air can make you feel even worse if it contains dust, biological contaminants or cooking odors.
However, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are sometimes released from the AC’s materials, refrigerants or maintenance products can also pose certain health risks. Keeping your home properly ventilated and scheduling an inspection of your AC may help you limit VOC exposure.
Signs Your HVAC System May Be Affecting Indoor Air Quality
- Persistent allergy symptoms while you’re inside your home
- Frequent headaches and/or sinus irritation
- Musty smells near vents
- High indoor humidity
- Worsening asthma symptoms
- Dust buildup around vents
How Indoor Air Quality Services Can Help
Improving your home’s air quality can be as simple as keeping up with your AC’s maintenance requirements and hiring the right professionals to provide any needed assistance. In addition to promoting better indoor air quality, you can enhance your AC’s performance with the right improvements.
Changing filters and using air purification and dehumidifier systems can give your home better ventilation and limit moisture and microbial buildups that diminish indoor air quality. UV lights can also help improve your home’s air by killing germs, viruses and other microbes that are often distributed throughout homes from air conditioners.
FAQ
Can dirty air ducts make you sick?
Yes, dirty air ducts can make you sick because of the dirt, pollen and other illness-causing particles that may circulate in your home when you’re running your AC or heater.
Why do I feel congested when my AC is running?
This is likely related to the allergens, such as dust, pollen and pet dander, that get inside your AC and are then emitted into the air. Sitting directly in front of your AC while it blows out cold air can also trigger congestion and a runny nose.
Can mold grow inside an HVAC system?
Yes, especially if the system doesn’t ventilate properly or hasn’t been cleaned in a long time.
Why does my house smell musty when the AC turns on?
Mold could be growing inside the AC, or your unit may be circulating mold spores throughout your home even if the mold is growing somewhere other than your AC.
Will an air purifier help with indoor air quality?
It can, but you should also keep up with your AC’s maintenance requirements and do other things to improve ventilation in your home if you want the best air quality possible.
Improve Indoor Air Quality with One Hour Clearwater
The professionals from One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning offer premium services that are designed to improve indoor air quality so that all of our customers in Clearwater, FL, can breathe easier in their homes.
Some of the indoor air quality services we offer include:
- Air purification
- Humidity control
- Filtration solutions
- Ventilation improvements
Contact One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning in Clearwater today to let us know when you’d like our professionals to show up at your door. We’re always on time or you don’t pay a dime.