Why the Air Conditioner May Give You a Sore Throat

Summary

Heating and air conditioning has become so ubiquitous that we oftentimes do not give a second thought to their importance and effect on comfort and lifestyle—until we experience discomfort of any kind. Did you know that there are three main reason why an air conditioner can give you a sore throat?

Why the Air Conditioner May Give You a Sore Throat

Heating and air conditioning has become so ubiquitous that we oftentimes do not give a second thought to their importance and effect on comfort and lifestyle—until we experience discomfort of any kind. Did you know that there are three main reason why an air conditioner can give you a sore throat?

Dry air, dirty air, allergies and sore throats happen, and when they do, the first suspect is the air conditioning. This is true only sometimes, but when it is, there are a few reasons why.

Why Do I Have a Sore Throat?

Air conditioners work by removing the humidity from the air, transferring hot air outside, and recycling cooled air. This is why they’re more effective than fans at cooling your home. Unfortunately, the side effect is that you can deal with dryness and irritation in your nose and throat.

Here are some common symptoms from air conditioning:

• Dryness in your throat or mouth
• Sinusitis
• Nosebleeds
• Itchy eyes or skin

For people with pre-existing conditions and environmental allergies, these symptoms may be worse. But sore throats from air conditioning can happen to anyone, and problems with your system only exacerbate the problem.

Here are some common causes of sore throats with air conditioning:

Improper Installation

If your air conditioning system wasn’t properly installed at the start, it may not be running as it should. This can cause areas to stagnate within the system, harboring mold and bacteria. When these contaminants are pushed back out into the air, it can cause you to experience sore throats and other respiratory symptoms. It’s important to always have a professional HVAC technician install your air conditioner instead of trying to do it yourself.

Lack of AC Maintenance

Your air conditioner needs to be maintained by a qualified technician on a regular basis, at least once a year. If you have pets, live in a dusty environment, or experience unusual wear and tear, you may need more frequent maintenance and tune ups. These tasks are necessary to keep your air conditioner running at its best. You should schedule maintenance from a qualified HVAC technician and keep up with routine work on your own by changing the air filters.

Closed Vent Control

If you’re using your air conditioner with the vent control closed, your system can’t exchange the air from the indoors to the outdoors effectively. This creates stagnant areas in your system and leads to a buildup of bacteria and mold, so make sure you always have the vent control open.

A properly running air conditioner shouldn’t cause regular throat irritation. If you have problems like these with your air conditioning, here are some things you can do.

What You Can Do If the Air Conditioner Is Giving You a Sore Throat

The first step is to schedule an appointment for maintenance from a qualified HVAC technician. They can ensure that your system is running its best and double check the installation, reinstalling it if necessary.

 

Otherwise, here are some changes you can make to improve your health:

• Minimize the use of your air conditioner. It’s best not to run your air conditioner all night and day. Turn it off when you’re not home, if you don’t have family members or animals in the heat or try using economy mode to allow it to cycle off periodically.
• Get some fresh air. Indoor air has a poor balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in an enclosed space, which can worsen respiratory irritation. Spend time outside to relieve your sore throat and other symptoms.

• Stay hydrated year round, but especially during the summer months. If you spend a lot of time in low-humidity environments, like air conditioned spaces, keep water near you and sip it regularly to soothe your throat.
• Clean and replace your air filters on a regular basis to avoid contaminants like pet hair and dander from entering your home and exacerbating your symptoms.

• Don’t use fragranced cleaning solutions, strong air fresheners, or products with harsh chemicals that cause respiratory irritation.

When the Air Conditioner Isn’t to Blame

If your HVAC contractor cannot find any faults within the central air system, you can adjust some personal habits to help alleviate pain and discomfort.

Consider adding a humidifier to restore moisture in the air supply. When the central air system runs for great lengths of time, water is zapped out of the air. Your HVAC contractor can help you find the right humidifier for your home and lifestyle needs.

Always remember to keep hydrated to help wash out irritants breathed in.

Service Champions for Superior Air Conditioning

Service Champions experts are successful at diagnosing and healing all air problems. As the only Diamond Certified HVAC provider for Los Angeles and Orange counties, we have delivered superior customer service and expert technical care to thousands of homes in Southern California.

Looking for air conditioner maintenance or repairs? Contact Service Champions for all your HVAC needs!