Is Your AC Making You Sick? Signs to Look for and How to Prevent It

If you are experiencing unexplained headaches, a cough and runny nose, dizziness or fatigue with no known culprit, you may want to inspect a common household appliance.

Air conditioning is one of the most popular modern conveniences, protecting against heatwaves and filling homes with cool air.

But, if the units aren’t installed, maintained or cleaned properly, they can become rife with mold, inflicting serious health complications on unsuspecting residents breathing in their air.

Tony Abate, an indoor air quality expert and vice president of AtmosAir Solutions, told DailyMail.com: ‘Dirty air conditioning units, especially those filled with mold, can certainly impact your health… [and] spread mold and other contaminants within a room.’

In many instances, air conditioning units become contaminated with black mold, which typically grows where there is moisture from water damage, water leaks, condensation or flooding.

The Cleveland Clinic reports black mold triggers an immune response and people may experience exacerbated allergies and develop symptoms like sneezing, coughing, congestion and eye irritation.