Air conditioning is often associated with getting sick; in fact, who has never caught a cold after spending an entire day in the air conditioner?
Yet you don't get sick from the air conditioner itself. So what are the causes? AeroConsult lists them for you.
Temperature differences
Many air conditioners are far too cold. The ideal temperature difference between outside and inside is a maximum of 6°C. Do the temperatures rise to 40°C as has been happening occasionally lately? Then the temperature difference is quickly too great. Anyone already suffering from respiratory infections will develop additional complaints more quickly.
Air conditioning maintenance
Did you catch a cold from a day in the air conditioner? Then that air conditioner probably hasn't been properly maintained. Air is drawn through a filter before it is cooled and returned to the room. That filter keeps particles such as pollen or viruses from getting into the cooled air.
Maar wordt die filter niet goed onderhouden? Dan komen die vervuilende deeltjes zo de kamer opnieuw in waardoor je een verkoudheid kan oplopen of je allergie kan opspelen.
This, then, is the biggest advantage of the Innova Monoblock air conditioners that you can get from AeroConsult: they are maintenance-free and are available in combination with ionization. With ionization, viruses, pollen and bacteria in the air are eliminated, so you no longer have to worry about them.
Humidity in the home
Not only poor maintenance can cause you to get sick; the wrong setting can also be the culprit. After all, an air conditioner regulates not only temperature but also humidity.
An ideal humidity is between 45% and 60%, but air conditioners often reduce that humidity to 40% or even less. That low humidity causes minor ailments such as chapped lips or dry eyes and irritation to the mucous membranes or airways. That irritation to the mucous membranes or airways is what causes an itchy cough.
Air conditioning in the car
What we come into contact with the most are air conditioners in cars. These are even more likely to make you sick because the air conditioners in cars are often used incorrectly: for example, they are usually too cold, making the temperature difference too great with the outside air, but the biggest mistake is leaving the air conditioners on until you reach your destination. When that happens, the evaporator of the air conditioner is still damp, promoting the growth of bacteria and mold. Those unhealthy substances are blown right into your face when you restart the car.
Some tips
- Clean and maintain your air conditioner properly. You won't get sick from air conditioning as long as that air conditioning is properly maintained. If you already suffer from respiratory symptoms, the symptoms are more likely to worsen if you have spent an entire day in air conditioning. That's because bacteria and viruses spread faster when it's colder.
- Try to keep the temperature difference between outdoor and indoor air conditioning to a minimum. A difference of 6°C is ideal.
- Turn off your car's air conditioning when you are about five minutes from your destination. That way, it has time to dry out and the transition from the fresh car to the warm outside air is not too jarring for your body.
Looking for an air conditioner that you can perfectly adjust and requires no maintenance? Contact AeroConsult now and our experts will be happy to assist you.
Want to learn more about the benefits of air conditioners? Check out our latest blog posts now.