Old Window Air Conditioner Health

There s been a mysterious slightly moldy smell in my home all summer and this morning when our window air conditioner kicked on i noticed that the odor unmistakably came from the unit.

Old window air conditioner health.

Take a window air conditioning unit for instance. Likewise if your air conditioning uses air vents then it s highly important that these are regularly cleaned out. He says worsening asthma problems and allergies. Department of energy s lawrence berkeley national laboratory.

Common problems that can leave your family sniffling and sneezing include inadequate draining pans contaminated ducts or filters poor ventilation power. Mendell studied the health effects of air conditioning systems while with the u s. Mold for example can be worse in a window unit than a central ac system. The refrigerant is also potent greenhouse gases.

Air conditioning mold needs to be removed as soon as possible to protect your health and the health of your loved ones. The nfpa data indicates that window mounted air conditioners pose an outsized risk. A good air conditioner can improve indoor air quality but old units may sometimes cause or intensify allergies and asthma states the centers for disease control and prevention. It s also possible for your air conditioner to leak out all its refrigerant with no harm to you whatsoever.

If you have mold in a window air conditioner unit follow the link for more information. It s also possible to use air conditioners that are known as split units or window units which only work for one room but do so by sitting halfway in and halfway out of a window and circulating clean air in from. Air conditioners regardless of type all contain some form of cooling refrigerant according to the environmental protection agency many window air conditioning units and dehumidifiers contain hydrochlorofluorocarbon 200 hcfc refrigerant an ozone depleting substance ods that if released to the environment can destroy the ozone layer. Even so if you notice signs of a refrigerant leak whether from an old or new air conditioner contact a technician immediately to protect your health the environment and your air conditioning system.

This article deals with mold in central ac systems. The nfpa website features a page specifically on the fire risks of air conditioners with a link to a detailed 2012 study. Before you install a window air conditioner in a room consider some of the harmful effects it can have.