Your Air Conditioner Could Be Making You Sick

mold

The comfortable temperatures that air conditioners provide certainly can make the warm summer months more tolerable. But have you considered the fact that your air conditioning could be making you sick?

Mold can develop in your air conditioning even with a minimal amount of moisture. With the air conditioning system running throughout your house, each time it pumps air, it could also be pumping mold.

How Mold In Your Air Conditioner Can Effect Your Health

Mold can cause the onset of allergies. Even for people who don’t experience any of the common allergies have been shown to be allergic to mold. The unpleasant reactions to mold may include respiratory conditions and eye irritation. However, certain molds are known to induce dangerous health risks that cause pneumonia or flu like symptoms and even heart issues. Symptoms and health issues that commonly occur with the presence of air conditioner mold include the following:

Breathing difficultyHeadachesChronic fatigueNausea and/or digestive issuesSkin rashesInability to concentrateNose, throat, lung, or eye irritation

When exposed to toxic mold, people of all ages and health statuses may experience major health issues.

Prevent Mold Growth In Your Air Conditioner

You can prevent the development of mold can by having the air conditioner ducts cleaned and free of debris, and also by routinely changing the filters. The dirt that tends to accumulate in air conditioner ducts increase the likelihood of moisture being trapped, making an ideal feeding ground for the mold fungus. Further, the filters in your air conditioning system cannot properly filtrate when clogged with dust and dirt.

Identifying Air Conditioner Mold

Occasionally, the only noticeable sign of air conditioner mold may be you or family members experiencing allergy symptoms whenever the air conditioner is turned on. Other signs may include musty odors in the air, visible signs of mold around the air vents, or filters.

Removing Mold From Air Conditioner Ducts

Many homeowners choose to clean the mold themselves, and while surface area cleaning does provide benefits, the ducting system is fairly complex. Air ducts should be maintained on a regular basis. Finding and patching cracks or holes will prevent the risk of mold development and address ventilation issues.

Ideally, the task is best accomplished by hiring experts with the proper equipment to test for air mold and have access to the tools required in the complex process. This will ensure complete removal or existing mold and the proper disinfection necessary for preventing regrowth. In addition to allowing the skilled experts to handle the issue, an inspector will accurately locate the source of the problem as well. To get started seek the advice of mold assessors.