Is your air conditioning making you sick? What to look out for and how to prevent this, according to an expert

If you’re experiencing unexplained headaches, coughs and runny noses, dizziness, or fatigue with no known culprit, you may want to inspect a common household appliance.

Air conditioning is one of the most popular modern conveniences. It protects against heat waves and fills homes with cool air.

But if the units are not properly installed, maintained or cleaned, they can become filled with mold, causing serious health complications to unsuspecting residents who breathe their air.

Tony Abate, indoor air quality expert and vice president of AtmosAir Solutions, told DailyMail.com: ‘Dirty air conditioning units, especially those filled with mold, can certainly impact your health… [and] spreads mold and other contaminants throughout a room.”

In many cases, air conditioning units become contaminated with black mold, which usually grows where there is moisture from water damage, water leaks, condensation or flooding.

The Cleveland Clinic reports that black mold triggers an immune response and people may experience worsened allergies and develop symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, congestion and eye irritation.

Shu Saito, founder and CEO of HVAC and filtration company All Filters, told DailyMail.com: ‘Dirty air conditioners and air conditioners contaminated with mold create health risks, mainly due to reduced indoor air quality and the unit acting as a constant source of pollutants substances in the air.

‘If an air conditioning unit is not properly maintained, dust, dirt and moisture that builds up on its surface can provide an ideal environment for mold growth. Once the mold has established itself, spores are released into the air when the system is operating. These can cause everything from a variety of breathing problems to skin irritation, increasing the severity of asthma and allergic reactions.”

In many cases, air conditioning systems become contaminated with black mold,

He continued: ‘These spores, along with other contaminants in the system such as bacteria and dust mites, can cause problems ranging from minor nasal congestion and sneezing to more serious conditions such as bronchitis, chronic coughing or even sinus infections in people who have compromised immune systems.’

For most people, exposure to black mold will not make you seriously ill or cause death.

However, for people with weakened immune systems, exposure to black mold can cause mycosis, a fungal infection throughout the body that leads to fatigue, muscle aches, chest pain, weight loss, and asthma-like symptoms.

Other types of mold that can commonly grow in air conditioning systems include alternaria (green or brown with a velvety texture) and chaetomium (cotton-like appearance with a musty odor).

If mold is growing in your air conditioner, you may notice a musty odor or see black spots around the unit.

If you suspect a dirty AC unit, you can contact specialists to have it tested.

The cost of testing an AC unit for contamination can vary depending on the type of test and system being tested, but RPF Environmental notes that the average is around $400.

For those on a budget, do-it-yourself test kits are an inexpensive way to initially inspect the air quality in your home and can range from $15 to $200.

Air conditioning with a build-up of moisture, poor ventilation, vents and ducts where mold grows, as well as appliances that are not used often, can all release pollutants into the air that people unknowingly inhale.

Glenn Gault, the CEO of Gault Heating & Cooling, explains, “What air conditioning units do is draw air from the room, cool it, and then release it back into the room.

‘When air is drawn from the room into the AC unit, it passes through a filter that removes many particles, such as dust and mold spores, before passing over the cooling coils.

‘If mold spores grow on the coils or other internal parts of an air conditioning unit, they can be blown out with the air, lowering indoor air quality and posing a huge threat to your health.’

And Mr Saito added: ‘These problems are exacerbated in homes or structures that are not properly ventilated, as these types of pollutants become trapped indoors and continue to recirculate.

‘This repeated exposure causes the membranes of the airways to become chronically inflamed, weakening the body’s immune response and thus making it more susceptible to infections.’

Autumn Clayman, 29, of California, confirmed Mr. Saito’s claims, saying that mold in her apartment’s air conditioning unit left her with “burning” skin and a $10,000 bill to replace and repair her belongings. to move house.

Autumn Clayman claims that black mold in her apartment’s air conditioning caused her skin irritation

She started experiencing a burning sensation around her face and started seeing red spots appear on her skin shortly after moving into her new Los Angeles apartment in February.

She then started developing eczema – chronic inflammation and itching of the skin – all over her body and her allergies worsened.

Unsure what was causing her problems, Ms. Clayman cut out certain foods to see if the situation improved, but it didn’t.

However, Ms. Clayman’s flare-ups got worse and she thought the cause was something in her apartment. So she stayed with her boyfriend for two weeks. While she was there, her symptoms began to improve.

Confident that it was her home causing the problems, Ms. Clayman paid $780 to have her apartment tested for mold. The result came back positive for stachybotrys chartarum (or black mold) in both of her air conditioning units, which had been blowing cold air throughout the room. apartment.

AC repair company Smedley’s says the best way to prevent black mold buildup in your AC unit is to clean the evaporator coil annually.

The expert cleaners note: ‘Enclosed in the air conditioner’s plenum, the evaporator coil is kept moist and in the dark – the perfect conditions for mold to form.’

It is possible to clean the evaporator coil yourself with a mild detergent and warm water, but you run the risk of damaging the delicate aluminum fins along the evaporator coil.

Therefore, it may be best to call in a technician.

Other tips experts offer include emptying and cleaning the condensation pan, replacing air filters every three months and investing in a standalone dehumidifier to combat mold growth.

They also recommend UV germicidal lights, which can be installed near the evaporator coil and in other areas that are hotbeds for mold growth.

Long-term use of UV germicidal lamps “not only addresses existing mold growth, but also plays a role in preventing future mold, mildew and bacterial growth.”

If the AC unit is beyond salvage, it may be worth purchasing a new one; window, wall and freestanding models are available. Prices range from $150 to $600 depending on the offering.

Overall, Mr. Saito emphasized that proper maintenance of air conditioning units is critical to maintaining both a cool and healthy home: “Additionally, mold growth and dust accumulation strain the HVAC system, reducing its performance, resulting in high energy costs.

‘Regular cleaning and replacement of filters in the system is critical, not only to keep the systems running, but also to ensure that the health and wellbeing of everyone in the area is protected.’