Air conditioning and its effects on health

Though air conditioning systems firmly integrated into our homes and offices to boost inner comfort, and it is not an overstatement to say that they became life-saving, there are still lots of misconceptions and myths around this device. Most of these legends revolve around the deadly impact of AC equipment on human health, and their context is pretty the same: a prolonged exposure to air conditioning betokens no good to a person. But is it really so?

Air conditioning popular myths — busted

The fact that air conditioners do affect human health cannot be denied, but this influence is not negative, but positive.

Such an apparatus not only creates a pleasant climate inside the settings but also cleans the inner air of pollutants, allergens, dust, and pathogenic microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Advanced models of AC systems boast functionality to saturate the inner air with negatively charged ions and control the level of humidity in premises. Negatively charged ions are known for their abilities to:

• Strengthen the immune system and mental well-being,
• Normalize sleep,
• Facilitate the purification of lungs from microscopic dirt and germs,
• Increase the alkalinity of blood,
• Improve skin condition,
• Accelerate the healing of wounds and burns,
• Speed up the metabolism,
• Suppress free radicals,
• Regulate the levels of neurotransmitters and serotonin (the feel-good hormone)

With such an impressive list of health-promoting benefits driven by negatively charged ions (that are, in turn, generated by an AC system), some rumors that air conditioning might compromise a person’s health still take place. It is time to get them dispelled.

Myth #1: air conditioning is a culprit of colds

Lots of users claim that conditioners are the main cause of colds and respiratory diseases. There is some connection between an AC unit and colds coming from the misuse of the equipment. Imagine you are walking in the summer heat; it is really too warm outside with a thermometer stem working above 30+ degrees. To protect yourself from torridity, you go into a cafe with a running AC unit, and the interior temperature is so low that it leaves you breathless for a moment. Such a rapid change in temperatures is really harmful to health and can result in catching a cold. To avoid colds, make sure the difference between the temperature inside and outside does not exceed 6-8 degrees.

Another cause of catching a cold while exposed to air conditioning is an improperly installed condition unit. If it is mounted next to a sofa, bed or another place where people stay for a long time, prolonged exposure to a flow of chilled air can lead to unpleasant consequences.

Myth #2: air conditioners weaken immunity

This myth is based on the supposition that, by purifying the inward atmosphere from harmful microorganisms and tiny impurities, a conditioner makes the inner air sterile, so that the human body gets used to such purity and can no longer identify pathogens, which ultimately results in a weakened immune function.

This is far away to be true because an AC apparatus does not make the interior atmosphere sterile but only cleans it to a normal level.

Myth 3#: air conditioning causes allergies

There is a grain of truth in this statement. The cause of an allergic reaction can be dirt and germs accumulated inside the conditioner. When there is too much of them, the device begins to throw part of the pollutants and bacteria back into the room. The reason for this is the failure to maintain conditioner filters. Air filters for home and air conditioners should be cleaned every 3-4 months or even earlier if recommended by the manufacturer to prevent the emission of accumulated nasty stuff into the inner atmosphere and ensure the peak efficiency of the mounted AC equipment. Check our website to choose air filter for you.

Myth #4: conditioners cause skin dryness

When a conditioner is working, it really eliminates some moisture contained in the air. However, this feature is hardly associated with the feeling of eye or skin dryness. Yes, this sensation might occur, but only if the equipment works for a prolonged long time without an interruption in a premise with constantly closed windows and doors. If you still doubt, then pay attention to contemporary AC models coming with a built-in air humidification function preventing undesired air dryness.

Myth # 5: air conditioning consumes too much energy

The output power generated by a conditioner and the input power it consumes are not the same thing. Modern AC installations consume electricity several times less (from about 2.5 to 6 kW/h) than they produce. A split-system covering an area of 20-25 square meters, consumes about 0.5-0.8 kW / h, while an iron consumes 2.0-0.5 kW/h. When shopping for an AC unit, give special attention to an indicator of energy consumption class. Class A conditioners are the most cost-efficient. You can also obtain a thermostat for your AC or HVAC device to save yourself from high electricity consumption.