My child sneezes and has a blocked nose only in the morning, in the room with the AC
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Titan, Baba Novac street, 1984 block, 5-year-old boy. His bedroom has a 9,000 BTU Gree, 4 years old, running at night at 24 °C. For a month, in the morning he sneezes 10 times in a row, blocked nose, red eyes; by noon it clears. At the weekend, at his grandparents' (no AC), nothing. The paediatrician says 'allergy', but to what?
What is really happening
Allergy symptoms cannot identify the source on their own. Dust, outdoor pollen, damp surfaces and other indoor exposures may contribute. An air conditioner can cool and remove moisture, but does not diagnose an allergy or guarantee a target humidity. Inspect filters and drainage and follow the clinician’s advice for the person concerned.
- Particles of different sizes move through the air.
- The filter retains some particles, depending on its type.
- A standard filter is not equivalent to HEPA filtration or gas removal.
Particles are symbolic and not to scale.
- The blower (cross-flow fan) is the most fungus-contaminated component of a split unit, more than the filter or the front of the evaporator. [Indoor Air, 2023]
- On filters of residential split units, Cladosporium (~32%), Aspergillus (~9%), Acremonium and Alternaria dominate – genera known as allergens. [Building and Environment, 2025]
- Relative humidity above about 50% increases house dust mite levels; a clean air conditioner helps keep humidity below this threshold. [WHO / NCBI Bookshelf, 2009]
- The US Institute of Medicine found sufficient evidence that damp/mouldy environments are associated with cough, wheeze, upper respiratory symptoms and asthma symptoms in asthmatics. [Institute of Medicine / National Academi, 2004]
What we do on site
- We schedule during the day, while the child is at kindergarten.
- Collection cover; film over the bed, toys taken out of the room.
- Cleaning solution on evaporator, roller, pan; pressure wash in place.
- Sanitising solution, dosed, then an extra rinse and full drying on 'Fan'.
- Outdoor unit, washed in place.
- See current rates on the Prices page.
What you can do yourself
- Allergen-proof covers on mattress and pillow; bedding washed at 60 °C weekly.
- Hygrometer: target under 50% in the bedroom; use Dry in the evening if needed.
- Louvre up, low speed, 25–26 °C – not 24 with a jet at the bed.
- Filters every two weeks, 'Fan' 20 minutes before shut-off (set a morning timer).
What NOT to do
- Do not put an air freshener or scented 'purifier' in the child's room.
- Do not spray 'anti-mould' into the unit.
- Do not dismiss the pattern as 'he is sensitive' – it is an exposure that can be removed.
Prevention
Plan maintenance according to the appliance manual and what is found during inspection. Keep any medical follow-up separate; cleaning does not guarantee that symptoms will resolve.
When to call us
0764 012 943 / WhatsApp, Monday–Saturday 08:00–20:00. For children we prioritise.
Maintenance does not replace medical care. CDC: mold and health · EPA: moisture and mould
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Read also
- Allergies, sneezing and irritated eyes from the air conditioner
- Air conditioning and small children
- Home humidity and air conditioning
Sources (11)
- onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2023/8984619
- www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360132325010303
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK143947/
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11149998/
- www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(99)70298-8/fulltext
- nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11011/damp-indoor-spaces-and-health
- www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/881618
- iaqscience.lbl.gov/health-risks-dampness-and-mold-houses
- www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1526054223000398
- www.osti.gov/biblio/1004161
- academic.oup.com/aje/article/194/12/3492/8249775
The information on this page is educational and based on cited sources; it does not replace medical advice. We do not do repairs, installation or refrigerant circuit work.