Is My Air Conditioner Causing an Allergy Cough?
Is a chronic cough keeping you awake at night, no matter what kind of cold medicine you take? A cough that lingers for weeks despite being treated with medication and looked at by a doctor could be the sign of something bigger. You might be experiencing a cough that stems from severe allergies. If your cough tends to disappear during certain times of the day, it is possible that it could be caused by your air conditioner.
You need to prioritize your physical health and eradicate the things that are causing your allergies to flare up. Here’s what you need to know about how your air conditioner is can cause a cough.
Why does the air conditioner cause a cough?
The most common reason that air conditioners cause a cough is because they weren’t adequately cleaned on a regular basis. The air filters installed in your returns are responsible for removing dust, debris, pet dander, and other pollutants from the air. When you don’t get around to changing these filters on a regular basis, this means that the fresh air is simply filtering through the pollutants before entering your home. Those particles become airborne once again, irritating your sinuses and triggering your allergies.
Another common reason that your air conditioner could be causing a cough is due to mold growth. If you have too much moisture built up on the coils of your air conditioning unit or even in the ductwork of your home, this moisture could become a breeding ground for mold. Mold can cause a number of health issues, including a suspicious cough.
Oftentimes, people who have a cough caused by an air conditioner experience relief from their symptoms at work or while running errands. Changing their environment makes it more likely that their cough will disappear.
What can I do to get rid of it?
Eliminating the things that are causing your allergies to spike might be relatively simple. The first thing that all homeowners should do is change their air filter. Look for a medium-efficiency option with pleats. This should remove a high number of particles and is far more efficient than the flat-panel options that are less expensive. Individuals with severe allergies might need to change their filter on a monthly basis.
While you’re changing the filter, you should take a flashlight and look inside the returns. Call a professional if you see any telltale signs of mold such as black spots dotting the metal. You will need to find the source of the moisture and remedy it before you can remove the mold. Many people notice a bad smell in their home, similar to dirty gym socks, when they have mold growth.
