subject: Be Careful That Your Air Conditioning System Is Not Running Hazardously [print this page] Not just a heat heater: air conditioners remove moisture from the air and also filter allergens nearly as well as most air purifiers. Air conditioners take the sizzle out of hot, humid days by blowing warm air over metal coils filled with a refrigerant. This not only lowers the air temperature hut also condenses the water vapors in the air, producing a cooler, drier indoor climate.
Except for added comfort, air conditioners provide protection from a couple of health threats, particularly heatstroke. A life threatening condition, heatstroke customarily develops over the course of one or two burning, damp days and causes the body to lose its capability to release heat. Sweating stops and the body's temperature rises. However, spending only a few hours a day in an air-conditioned room can short-circuit this dangerous process. Folks that suffer from diabetes or heart problems and people who take such medicines as anti-histaniines, diuretics, beta-blockers, and vasoconstrietors are at the best risk of developing heatstroke.
Air conditioners are also a perk for people that are suffering from allergies or asthma. As the units chill the air, they also filter pollen, mildew spores, and dust, all of which can trigger allergic and asthmatic reactions.
If air conditioners are not well maintained, they may cause some of the issues they otherwise stop. A soiled air filter can harbour pollen, fungi, and bacteria and permit millions of microbes into the room, probably causing an asthma attack, irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat - even influenza like sickness. Correct upkeep will minimise these hazards.
About each 2 to 4 weeks, vacuum the air filter, and then wash it in soapy water. Be certain to let the filter dry absolutely before reinstalling it. You might also want to spray it with a disinfectant to keep it freed from mold. If the air conditioner uses expendable filters, do not forget to replace them at the advised intervals.
Air conditioners in big buildings can pose a much more serious threat because they use reservoirs of water that will harbour dangerous bacteria. When Legionnaires ' illness struck an an American Legion convention in Philadelphia in 1976, epidemiologists found colonies of the deadly Legionella pneutnophila micro-organism in the air circulated b1 the hotel's air conditioning system. Other organisms that grow in massive air conditioning units can trigger hypersensitivity pneumonitis, also called allergic alveolitis. The condition is due to breathing miniscule organic dusts, which inflame the air sacs of the lungs and can ultimately interfere with ordinary respiring.
The air conditioners in our ears can pose problems of their own. The interior of the units are hot, moist, and dark - an ideal breeding ground for fungi and mold spores.
If you are allergic to mold, opt for the fresh air rather than the re-circulated air setting, aim the air vents away from your face, and crack open the car windows for several minutes after you turn on the air conditioner to allow any microorganisms to escape. If the problem persists, you may want to have a qualified mechanic treat the air conditioner with a disinfectant which will keep it mold free for about three months.
