The Dangers Of Poorly Maintained Air Conditioning Units

A well-maintained air conditioning system can provide a broad range of benefits to your home or work place; by controlling the temperature, it can help to keep you relaxed, satisfied and therefore efficient. As long as the air conditioning unit is cared for properly, these benefits are practically risk-free. 

But, if certain measures are ignored, your air conditioning unit may become a problem. In the vast majority of cases, air conditioning units remain completely safe when properly maintained and used. Regular maintenance is always important, as a compromised system can have a number of negative effects, some of which are severe and some even catastrophic.

What are the Dangers?

A few years back, air conditioning was just a luxurious gift for the lucky few. However, it has been the standard in many workplaces and public transit services today, and has become part of our lives, whether we like it or not. Unfortunately, abusively low temperatures and inadequate upkeep may lead to a variety of health problems, causing chronic illnesses in certain people, and even large outbreaks of disease. Let’s discuss each of these problems.

Health Hazards

Poor maintenance of air conditioning units may result in the transport of health hazards by the circulating air. Since air conditioning units are an extremely effective way to circulate air throughout a given space. 

This could mean that any such hazards could be spread throughout the entire place of work, room or home. Pollutants and contaminants in air conditioning units can trigger, contribute and aggravate a variety of different respiratory problems. This includes asthma, allergies, and sinusitis. 

These issues are often caused by poor cleaning of the air conditioning system, which causes dust, dirt, and other small allergenic molecules to be transported around space by circulating air from the air conditioning system. When bacteria, viruses or fungi, such as molds, enter the air conditioning system, the hazards may become more serious. 

A wide range of diseases can be caused or spread by the lenient maintenance of the air conditioning system, which causes pollutants and micro-organisms to flow freely with supposedly fresh air. Your AC at home or office could pose a significant risk to your health and could potentially cause harmful medical conditions and illnesses. 

There are many risks associated with prolonged exposure to air conditioning. Although most UAE residents can not afford to live without air conditioning, you must be aware of the dangers associated with modern luxury. When people are constantly exposed to air conditioning, whether at home, in the car, office or shopping malls, they are at risk of being exposed to innumerable infections. 

Constant exposure may trigger respiratory infections, especially if the air conditioning systems are poorly maintained. Air conditioning systems that are not properly maintained may have harmful contaminants that worsen the condition of people carrying or suffering from infections or diseases. Because air conditioning takes away moisture, dry cold air may cause symptoms to rise. Those suffering from arthritis may also have their symptoms exacerbated. 

Joint pathologies may worsen, especially for those suffering from chronic arthritis. Heat and warm temperatures help patients with arthritis to feel better. Excessive exhaustion could also be an indication of too much exposure to air conditioning. When people in an air-conditioned environment go outside and feel the heat, they instantly feel tired and often start breathing hard. 

Their bodies are weak because they are not used to the hot climate. Poorly maintained air conditioning systems not only aggravate symptoms for asthma patients and those with pulmonary and respiratory diseases, but can also cause infections. 

People who have never had asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease could acquire them by living in a polluted air conditioning environment. They may also develop allergy symptoms, including sniffling, coughing, and sore throat.

 

Poisoning From Air Conditioning Units

Another problem commonly associated with malfunctioning systems is the leaking of coolant, which can be an even more severe health risk with potentially fatal implications. 

In many situations, this is linked to the Schrader valve malfunctioning (an internal mechanism that recharges the unit with refrigerant). The seal around this valve may deteriorate over time, resulting in the leakage of the coolant. If this happens, it can evaporate into a gas that is then pumped into the atmosphere of the room by the air conditioning unit.

This gas is highly dangerous, not only causing nausea and headaches, but also vomiting and coughing. If you see any of these symptoms, they may be early warning signs of refrigerant poisoning, in which case you have to switch off your unit, get medical help and then call an ac service technician immediately. Deaths from refrigerant poisoning are not uncommon, which makes it all the more important for you to respond quickly and decisively.

 

 

Fire hazard

Any air conditioning system that has not been properly maintained will gradually develop defects that may cause damage to the interior of the unit. Most air-con units build up dust over time, which can cause overheating and dramatically increase the risk of a fire breaking out. In addition, if you do not maintain it properly, the risk of short circuits in the wiring of your unit rises. Aside from having to replace your air-con, a fire could pose a greater threat to your property and those inside it.

How To Avoid These Problems

 

The quality of the air conditioning is thus crucial, and regular HVAC Maintenance in Dubai should be mandatory. Many people living in apartments in Dubai have old AC units. The quality of the air is therefore not only bad for health, but also deadly. The risks involved include pathogens and diseases that could spread quickly from one apartment to another – a vicious and polluted circle for all residents living in the same establishment.

Since AC is typically the only source of ventilation in a closed area, there is a risk that one contaminated individual may disseminate his or her infection to other apartment units. Moreover, it is essential to adjust the temperature of the room between 20-25 degrees Celsius. Anything below 20 degrees could stimulate symptoms of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Proper cleaning, particularly around intakes and outlets, is sometimes all that is needed to avoid allergy or asthma problems. Intakes and outlets are not just the fastest places to enter and disinfect, but also the areas where contaminants and other allergens appear to gather more. More intensive, professional cleaning may also be needed now and again, however, for the most part, merely keeping an eye on the grow-up of dust will go a long way towards eliminating hazards. 

There are also steps you can take to prevent bacteria like legionella from having the chance to build up. This mostly entails not allowing your air conditioning system to be completely inactive. Water should be kept flowing instead of sitting stagnant as stagnant water allows disease-causing agents a chance to reproduce. It is also advised that water be maintained at a temperature in which legionella and related species do not survive. This implies that the water should either be heated above 60 degrees Celsius (140 Fahrenheit) or cooled to a temperature of less than 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit).

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, regular HVAC maintenance in Dubai, checking and cleaning is the best way to avoid spreading illnesses. This will guarantee that toxins and disease-causing factors such as bacteria and microorganisms do not have the chance to develop to hazardous levels before they are washed out. It is recommended that air conditioning systems be properly monitored, washed and serviced at least twice a year. 

Generally, the best practice is to have cooling systems inspected and serviced before the seasons where intensive usage happens, so that they are in good shape beforehand. This is particularly significant because they may have just seen a period of inactivity or low use, which may provide an opportunity for contaminants to build up and bacteria to multiply. 

Speak to an HVAC Expert for information on how to maintain your air conditioning system properly. Given how easy it is to clean up the system, it’s a very small price to pay to defend it from any danger.

To schedule a maintenance appointment with one of our expert HVAC specialists, feel free to get in touch with us at info@adamscare.ae or call +971 4 557 1800.