If sitting in an air-conditioned space gives you the flu, a stuffy nose, or symptoms similar to allergies, your air conditioner may be to blame. Does an air conditioner make you sick?

Many folks who complain about being sick from the air conditioning think their HVAC system is to blame. This is not completely accurate.

Although your air conditioner may not directly cause you to become ill, it does create an environment that does.

By paying attention to a few things, such as maintenance and cleanliness, you can easily avoid illnesses associated with air conditioning.

Continue reading to find out more about what causes “air conditioning sickness” and how to prevent it.

Can Air Conditioning Make You Sick? Yes!

You can become sick from using an air conditioner. Fortunately, your air conditioner is not the problem here. You are not necessarily going to get sick from the cold air coming from your AC or the device itself.

The negative impacts of air conditioning are the cause of your problems. This indicates that your HVAC system is interacting with the environment to create a setting that is conducive to specific health problems.

Simply said, an air conditioner circulates the air in your room, which makes it easier for pollutants to be dispersed if your space contains them. These contaminants ultimately lead to health issues for you.

Let’s say, for instance, that your room has mold and germs as well as dander that is airborne. In that situation, air conditioning will circulate these pollutants, which may result in respiratory problems, stuffy noses, or sore throats.

Also, if your air conditioner is not properly maintained, it may become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. These contaminants may easily escape into your room when air travels through your AC.

If you like to blast your air conditioning, you should be aware that extreme cold can also make you sick. Severe cold causes dryness encourages the spread of cold-causing viruses and lowers immune function, which results in a reduction in the number of white blood cells that defend us from diseases and viruses.

Continue reading to learn how various types of air conditioning can make you sick and what you can do to prevent it.

Sick Building Syndrome

The term “sick building syndrome” (SBS) refers to the symptoms of particular illnesses and discomfort experienced by building inhabitants.

Although poor air quality is the main cause of sick building syndrome, other factors can also contribute, including dust, heat or low humidity, the presence of mold, inadequate ventilation, tobacco smoke, poor lighting, and more.

SBS makes no mention of any diseases. This is frequently related to the amount of time spent in a building, and the symptoms become better or go away as you leave the place.

These symptoms are frequently connected to the airborne pollutants in the structure.

The non-specific signs of sick building syndrome include headache, weariness, irritated mucous membranes, irritated skin, and breathing issues.

According to a study, the cause of sickness is building’s humidification and air conditioning systems spread toxins throughout the indoor environment. Air conditioning illness or sick building syndrome is caused by these pollutants.

Does this imply that air conditioners are the cause of our illnesses? No, running the air conditioner in smoggy air circulates dangerous particles that worsen symptoms.

By taking care of ventilation and air purification, undesirable conditions can be removed. You should perform more frequent air filter cleanings and be sure to conduct regular HVAC maintenance.

Symptoms of Air Conditioning Sickness

The rising temperatures during the summer make you overly reliant on your air conditioning system. When the outside temperature is nearly unbearable,

air conditioning provides a comfortable environment indoors, but too much of it can have negative health effects. Frequently, you may wonder, “Does air conditioning make you sick?”

Thankfully, the symptoms do not indicate any chronic ailments, but if ignored for a longer time, they may have negative implications.

Here are the top signs of air conditioning sickness that you should be concerned about.

1. Visible Mold

You should be concerned if you notice any visible mold on your walls, on vents, or around any other component of your HVAC system.

Mold spores may become airborne and move through the indoor, conditioned air. They may cause congestion, throat discomfort, and wheezing, among other health problems.

It is best to frequently inspect your air ducts and vents to search for any indications of mold growth. To address the issue and prevent additional infestation, contact a specialist as soon as the problem is discovered.

2. Respiratory or breathing problems

When they sit in a room with air conditioning, many people experience breathing and respiratory problems and feel better when they leave.

When the air conditioner, particularly its air filters, is not cleaned or replaced as needed, this frequently occurs.

Filters capture dust, fungus, and germs. If the air filters aren’t cleaned promptly, they’ll start letting these airborne particles into your space rather than screening them out!

You start breathing in contaminated air as a result, which causes air conditioning illness.

3. Allergy-Or Cold-Like Symptoms

Imagine that while seated next to an AC, you or a member of your family starts to feel cold or has allergy-like symptoms, which go away as soon as the cooling is turned off.

In that situation, it suggests air conditioning illness. Coughing, sneezing, wheezing, throat inflammation, etc. may be examples of this.

This symptom suggests that you should do an air conditioner maintenance check. Often, blocked air filters are the cause of the issue. Moldy air ducts can also occasionally be the cause.

As a result, you should get in touch with a specialist right away to schedule a maintenance checkup.

As a result, you must clean and replace your air filters every three months and 250 hours of use, respectively.

4. Flaky, dry, or itchy skin

By eliminating moisture from the air within, your air conditioner lowers the temperature in your room. Skin that is dry, flaky, or itching may result from this.

If you run your air conditioner for an extended period, the humidity may get very low. Your skin becomes dry as a result of the evaporation of water vapors from the air due to low humidity.

It is advised to keep the vanes up so that the chilly air does not directly contact your skin.

To maintain ideal indoor humidity, avoid having the temperature go too low, or utilize a smart air conditioner controller or thermostat to manage room humidity levels with your air conditioning,

there are several options available to you. Also, to keep your skin hydrated, moisturize your skin well and consume lots of water.