In past years, when air conditioning did not yet exist, the doctors advised to leave the house to breathe fresh air. Today is the opposite: during the summer we spend more and more time closed in the house or in environments with the air conditioner lit all day, convinced that it is safer. In part it is true: theAir conditioning helps us to overcome heat waves stronger and stronger and protects us from external pollution.
But there is a less known side. The air conditioner, if used badly or neglected, can make us feel worse. And no, it is not just the “air blow” that grandparents talk about: there are precise reasons, related to science, so you could start to sneeze or feel tired after a day in an air -conditioned environment.
What the air conditioning is really for (in addition to making us feel fresh)
Let’s start with the advantages. The air conditioner, but a real defense against the dangers of the heat, especially for the most fragile people. In the United States, for example, The deaths related to heat have doubled Between 1999 and 2023. With record temperatures and cities that become real “heat islands”, having a fresh environment at home can make a difference.
In addition, a well -made and well clean system filter the aireliminating dust, pollen and also the notorious PM2.5a type of pollution produced by traffic, industries and fires. This particulate is so thin that it can reach the lungs and cause serious problems.
Finally, air conditioning reduces humidity And this helps to keep mold, mites and bacteria away that can worsen allergies, asthma or even cause infections.
But if the air is too dry … the problems for nose and throat begin
Here is the downside. When the air is too dry – which happens if you keep the air conditioner on all day – your body tries to compensate. Humidifies the air you breatheand in doing so, he loses water every time I exhale. This can cause dryness in the throat, closed nose, cough and irritation. Have you ever woke up with your throat inflamed after sleeping with the air conditioner? Now you know why.
Another risk is that, with dry mucous membranes, The natural defenses of the body weakenand it becomes easier to take viruses or bacteria, especially if you are already fragile or tired. It is the same mechanism that occurs by plane, where the air is dry and many people get sick as soon as they come back from a journey.
How to avoid it? Controlling the humidity of the air. The ideal level is between the 40% and 60%. If it is too low, turn off the air conditioner or lower it. If it is too high, turn it on to avoid mold. You can keep the humidity under control with a small tool called hygrometerit costs little and is super useful.
The air conditioner filter does not clean itself
Another very common mistake is. If the filters are dirty, everything that ends there – powder, mold, bacteria – is put back in the circulation every time you turn on the air. Practically, I breathe pollution instead of fighting it.
According to experts, The filters must be changed every 1 or 2 monthsespecially in the hottest periods. Search filters with the abbreviation Merv 11 or 13: They are the ones who hold the most particles.
And it does not end here: once a year It is better to call a technician to make a complete cleaning. We often think that the air conditioner works well only because it is “fresh”, but This does not mean that the air it produces is clean. Indeed, sometimes the coils and pipes are full of mold and we don’t even notice.
If you want to take one step more, you can install a UV lamp inside the air conditioner: It serves to kill bacteria and mold before they enter the air. Just choose a model with safe certifications (Ul or Etl) to avoid risks.
If instead you use a portable or window air conditionerdon’t take it out at the last moment. Clean it well before using itotherwise you risk breathing all the powder accumulated during the winter.
Eye to the Voc: invisible toxic substances that the air conditioner does not eliminate
There is a type of pollution that The air conditioner cannot stop: i Vocor volatile organic compounds. They are chemicals released by paints, sprays, furniture, detergents and also by some environments deodorants. And they are not harmless at all. Can cause headache, irritation, hormonal disorders And, in the long run, chronic diseases.
The problem is that, if you keep the windows always closed and the air conditioning on all day, these voc they remain trapped in the house. This is why experts recommend Open the windows at least once a dayeven for a few minutes.
Alternatively, you can use Air purifiers with HEPA filters and active coal: they help to remove both VOC and PM2.5. The ideal is to keep them on all day at low speed and raise it when you clean or during the hours of traffic.
If you really want to understand that air breathes at home, there are sensors to monitor the PM2.5today very precise even in the cheaper models. The sensors for the Voc, on the other hand, are still unreliable.
