The Health Impacts of a Dirty Air Conditioner
Psst… psst! Over here! Yes, I’m your dirty AC and I’m talking to you! I cannot believe you forgot about me again–it’s been 3 months since my filter has been changed! Don’t you know that failing to do so will make me work harder which means raising your bills?
Not only that but with all the dirt and debris in my ductwork, I’m not really sure how you’re still breathing. PLEASE do something about this mess! This might seem a bit funny or maybe a bit odd, but it’s what we imagine your AC would tell you after months of neglect.
Having a dirty air conditioning system is bad all the way around–it raises your power bill, causes wear and tear, and it can really impact your health! We’re going to take a look at how having a dirty AC unit can affect everyone’s health and what you can do about it. Keep reading to find out more!
Respiratory Illnesses: Hacking Up a Lung
Catching any type of respiratory illness is never fun. There is usually lots of coughing involved, some sneezing, and maybe you wish your nose would fall off because of how stuffy it is.
Sometimes this type of illness is diagnosed as an upper respiratory infection, sinus infection, or sometimes bronchitis. Either way, it’s miserable.
These illnesses are caused by the accumulation of dirt and debris in your ductwork and air filter. Over time, all the dust can collect moisture making a perfect habitat for bacteria and mold to grow. Because there is air blowing over it all the time, it is spread throughout your home and into your lungs quite easily.
Developing Allergies
Some people develop allergies at a young age while others never develop them at all.
If you’ve lived in the same home for multiple years, haven’t switched cleaning products or detergents, and otherwise, keep a clean house, your allergies may be caused by dirt, dust, dander, and debris.
These allergies can look red, puffy, itchy eyes, stuffy noses, and lots of sneezing.
Development of Asthma
Asthma can be developed at any point in a person’s life, including adulthood. If you often feel like you can’t breathe and your chest is closing in, you may want to speak to your doctor.
This can be caused by a number of things, but breathing in dirty, moldy air is a big factor. The mold spores and the dirt irritate the bronchi in the lungs, leaving you feeling literally breathless.
Choosing The Best Heating For Your Home
When you’re in the process of buying a home, the last thing you want to be concerned with is what type of heating and cooling it has.
However, this is such an important part of your home–one that you use every day–that you should be extremely curious about it! Of course, you can always change or upgrade an old system, but if you know what to look for, you won’t have to!
Best of luck to you if you are buying a new home, and even if you aren’t, consider calling Southern Comfort Mechanical to take care of your HVAC unit! Also, if you enjoyed what you read, consider sharing this with friends–they may need to know about these heating options too!
