How To Prevent Airborne Illnesses Through Your AC

The air we breathe can have a huge impact on our health. After all, it’s through breathing that we supply the oxygen needed for our cells to function. We already discussed how indoor air quality affects brain activity and how AC maintenance is crucial in maintaining the quality of air indoors. Now let’s talk about the different airborne illnesses that could put you and your family’s health at risk and why regular AC servicing is important to prevent this.

What Are Airborne Diseases?

Simply put, airborne diseases are illnesses you can catch just by breathing. Small pathogens are released in the air through an infected person’s sneeze, cough, spit, or even when an individual talks. The nasal or throat secretions spread in the air. These droplets may contain viruses and bacteria that can linger in the air or drop on surfaces as well as people. 

When an individual breathes in the contaminated air, the bacteria or virus stays in the body and wreaks havoc to the respiratory system. Similarly, when a person touches a surface harboring the pathogens, the virus or bacteria can be transmitted through the eyes, nose, and mouth. Since these pathogens are present in the air, controlling them on a larger scale can be a herculean task; rather, it’s much easier to manage the quality of air inside your home or office. With regular AC maintenance, you can ensure that the air you breathe is safe and healthy. 

Common Airborne Diseases

The common cold, flu, tuberculosis, measles, and chickenpox are only some of the airborne diseases that people suffer from. Fortunately, due to the innovation in medicine and through years of research, vaccines have been developed to curb some of these illnesses. To have a general idea about these diseases, let’s go through each of them in detail. 

Common Cold

This is an upper respiratory disease that affects the nose and the throat. Several kinds of viruses can cause a person to contract a cold. This disease is usually harmless but if left untreated, can put your immune system at risk for further infection.

Flu

It gets its name from the influenza virus. Like the common cold, flu is a respiratory illness that causes fatigue, runny nose, cough, and sore throat. For most people, the symptoms usually go away on their own. Nowadays, flu shots are available to be taken once a year. Although it is not 100 percent effective, it can be the best line of defense against the flu next to proper hygiene. 

Tuberculosis

This is a very serious respiratory condition that can have lifetime effects on an individual even after its treatment. Unlike the flu and common cold, tuberculosis is caused by bacteria. It is highly contagious and can take several months to be completely treated. Some of the common symptoms are coughing up blood and alarming weight loss. 

Measles

According to the world health organization, measles contributes to about 140,000 deaths of children under the age of 5, worldwide. These children are unvaccinated and are therefore at a higher risk of contracting the disease. This is characterized by rashes, fever, runny nose, and dry cough. 

Chickenpox

Another airborne disease common to children is chickenpox. This is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Adults who have had chickenpox are less likely to catch it since the virus goes dormant. However, should a person get infected, it may develop into shingles, which is a painful and irritable skin condition. People who have chickenpox experience fever and small rashes with blisters on them. 

How Can Your AC Prevent These Airborne Diseases?

An efficient air conditioning system is a result of proper and regular maintenance, and it can be effective in controlling the quality of air in your home. When the AC is running in good condition, it promotes a healthy ventilation and exchange of air in and out of your home. 

Not only does a well-maintained AC system minimize the risk of infectious diseases, it can also reduce the energy consumption. When your AC is running smoothly, it only requires a minimum amount of energy, unlike when it needs to work harder due to clogged filters. 

An AC system that’s left unserviced for a long time increases the chances of it spreading airborne diseases. This is why it is important to make sure that your AC is in top shape especially now when diseases such as the flu and cold are a common occurrence. 

The Consequences Of Poorly Maintained AC/HVAC System

Neglecting to get your HVAC system maintained will not only affect its performance but could increase your energy consumption and threaten the health of your family. It can also reduce the lifespan of your unit, and worse can lead to compressor failure. 

When done on a regular basis, your HVAC system will be running smoothly and ensure that its filter components are clean and unclogged. Failure to do so will promote the growth of bacteria and will just be circulated throughout your home or office. 

Dirty filters are breeding grounds for pathogens and may contain allergens such as pollen or dander. When these filters are unchanged, it could lose its ability to provide clean air circulation and prevent the spread of harmful airborne particles that can cause diseases.

You put your family’s health at risk with a poorly maintained AC system. Not only that but you may waste your money in spending unnecessary repairs that could be prevented with regular servicing. 

What Goes Into A Proper AC Servicing/Maintenance

Considering the high temperatures in the UAE, especially during summer, bacteria and other pathogens thrive in HVAC ducts. Part of a proper AC system servicing is cleaning and disinfecting these ducts. It is essential to have it cleaned at least twice a year to ensure that the air circulating inside your home or office is good quality and free from pathogens. 

Disinfecting is not limited to HVAC ducts, this could be done for exhausts and vents needed for ventilation as well. Filters are cleaned and replaced if needed. This is to ensure that it functions properly as it’s responsible to prevent air contaminants from entering your home.

HVAC systems have evaporator coils which work like a radiator. This guarantees that the air is cooled and heated properly. Dirty evaporator coils harbor molds and germs that can contribute to poor air quality. HVAC maintenance includes the cleaning of these coils to ensure that airflow is not restricted. The cleaner the coil, the more efficient your HVAC system is. 

Condensers are checked if it’s clogged. It is then cleaned and disinfected. This will maintain the efficiency of your condenser so that your HVAC system can function properly and keep you home in a regulated temperature.

Your HVAC system will be examined for any leaks. This is often caused by a drained hole clogged with dirt and accumulated dust or air particles. This also means that the condenser pump is malfunctioning or broken or the seals on your unit are not tight enough. Drain pans are also checked. All these are addressed during an HVAC maintenance. 

More Than Just Cleaning And Disinfection

An efficient HVAC system is a sign of a well-kept home and Adams Care has been a part of many households and offices that have chosen to invest in a healthier environment- thanks to good air quality. More than just cleaning and disinfection, Adams Care also provides handyman services, plumbing, and home repair solutions. 

While airborne diseases can be mitigated with proper HVAC maintenance, sanitization of home furniture adds another layer of protection for your family. Using the latest technology, Adams Care provides eco-friendly sanitization solutions to keep illnesses at bay. 

Protect your home from falling victim to airborne diseases. Remember that prevention is better than cure. Reach out to our experts at Adams Care to learn more about how you can preserve a healthy home.