Summer – full of warm days, lots of laughs and… sneezing uncontrollably for many of us. Allergy symptoms are one of the least enjoyable parts of this time of year and for some, they can make every day challenging. You may have heard that air conditioning can help to relieve many of the most common symptoms, including dry throat, watery eyes and itchiness but is it true? Our blog today will look into these claims.
WHAT CAUSES ALLERGY SYMPTOMS?
Different irritants trigger different responses in different people. It is your immune system that determines how you react. This is because your body reacts to the foreign substance (pollen, dust, irritants, etc) and begins to produce antibodies. Some allergies can be very severe such as anaphylaxis, a severe reaction to nuts, which can be life-threatening to both adults and children. Others can be mild and simply irritate your skin while in contact.
HOW CAN AIR CONDITIONING HELP?
There are a number of ways that having air conditioning in your home or workspace can help minimise allergies.
COOLING PROCESS
Many airborne irritants that cause reactions are water-soluble – they dissolve when brought into contact with water. This means that they are also removed from the air during the cooling process, minimising the risk of inhaling or coming into contact with them.
FILTERS
Air conditioning units contribute to the heating, ventilation, and cooling of a building. To do this, air filters are used to clean the air that passes through the machine. They capture particles such as dust and irritants that would normally stay in the air and pass into our lungs. Many people choose to use HEPA filters which are mechanical. They force air through a fine mesh that captures particles including pollen and tobacco smoke before being disposed of safely. This makes them ideal for high-allergy sufferers.
HUMIDITY
Air conditioners are also used to control the humidity in a room. For some, mould and fungi can cause allergic reactions such as severe breathing problems. Most modern air conditioning units will maintain a 30 – 50% humidity in the room at all times. At this level, common moulds and fungi are unable to grow, therefore the risk of irritation greatly decreases.
To get the most out of your air conditioning unit, we recommend it is cleaned and maintained properly. Our Total Service will ensure all components are in full working order and the right filters are in place to improve air quality in your home. Contact us for more information.