It can be challenging to resist grabbing the air conditioner remote when the temperature is soaring. Nowadays, most people rely on air conditioners to survive, especially with springtime being unseasonably warm and summers being hotter than ever. While air conditioning can be beneficial in preventing us from feeling hot and stuffy, it also has a number of negative effects on our health, which we must consider before using it in our homes or businesses. In this section, we will look at the negative effects of air conditioners and how to limit the damage as much as possible.
Some negative impacts:
The repeated circulation of the same air throughout the space is the first issue with air conditioning. This implies that if someone sneezes or coughs, the germ will stay in the air and spread throughout the office for the remainder of the day. As more and more people sneeze over time, bacteria begin to accumulate, increasing the likelihood that you’ll breathe something unfavourable. Because of this, the room’s overall bacteria content will increase significantly as a result of your confinement. The same is true of dust, the majority of which is composed of dead skin, and allergens.
As a result of having to filter more than just air when we breathe in, these dust particles can make breathing challenging. However, they will also make matters worse by absorbing the minute water droplets and moisture in the air, which will make the air much dryer and more difficult to breathe. In addition to these issues, this dry air can also result in dry skin and eyes.
However, it is important to note that there are various types of air conditioners, and being selective in your selection, as well as using them correctly and maintaining them, can help you avoid health problems.
For example, some air conditioners will actually clean the air by circulating it with a disinfectant, making it much cleaner. In operating rooms, for example, air conditioning is used to remove bacteria from the environment by using a chemical disinfectant.
Similarly, air conditioners will use filters to prevent the spread of dust, and the more effective these are, the less dust will be re-circulated into the environment. This is why it’s critical to replace and clean your filters on a regular basis to ensure they remain as effective as possible and to improve the unit’s efficiency. Similarly, if your air conditioner has air vents, it is critical that these are cleaned on a regular basis.
Steps You Can Take
Whatever air conditioning system you use, there are steps you can take to limit the damage. For example, keep in mind that in order for pathogens to be circulated by your air conditioning, they must first exist in the room. You can greatly reduce the problem if you keep your room clean and regularly dust and wipe your surfaces, as well as send sick employees home if you work in an office and getting people to hold their hand in front of them when they sneeze.
Meanwhile, you might benefit from using a humidifier in the same room to keep the air from becoming too dry. These use a sensor to detect humidity in the room and then distribute water droplets throughout the environment only when needed.
It is critical not to overuse air conditioning, and you should consider whether it would be better to open a window or remove a layer instead.
