Asthma, bronchitis and air conditioning
- The unit and indoor environment: technical inspection, moisture, deposits and maintenance.
- Symptoms and diagnosis: assessment by a medical professional.
A unit problem does not establish the cause of an illness. Maintenance does not replace medical care.
What is really happening
A clean air conditioner is an ally for an asthmatic: it filters coarse dust and lowers the humidity and temperature that trigger attacks. A dirty one is the opposite: at start-up it releases a wave of spores, and the biofilm sustains bronchial irritation all summer.
For people with asthma or COPD we recommend two sanitisings per season on the bedroom unit, filters washed weekly, starting the unit 10 minutes before entering the room (once freshly cleaned, the initial spore wave disappears) and checking humidity.
The evidence
What to do
Mechanical pressure cleaning of the evaporator, blower and pan inside a collection cover, then sanitising; filters washed every two weeks; room humidity kept between 40 and 60%; the unit dried on fan mode before winter. No sprays over dirt, no bleach in the unit, no refrigerant "top-ups".
Related threads
Asthma diagnosed at 35, no history – should I look at the air conditioner?
Explanations and useful checks for this situation: Asthma diagnosed at 35, no history – should I look at the air conditioner?
Ex-smoker with chronic bronchitis – I cough harder in the room with the AC
Explanations and useful checks for this situation: Ex-smoker with chronic bronchitis – I cough harder in the room with the AC
Asthma for 20 years, night attacks only in summer – is the bedroom unit a suspect?
Explanations and useful checks for this situation: Asthma for 20 years, night attacks only in summer – is the bedroom unit a suspect?
UV-C lamp fitted inside the split 'against mould' – worth it for an asthmatic?
Explanations and useful checks for this situation: UV-C lamp fitted inside the split 'against mould' – worth it for an asthmatic?
With asthma, does the cold from the unit matter more, or the mould in it?
Explanations and useful checks for this situation: With asthma, does the cold from the unit matter more, or the mould in it?
Pregnant, third trimester, mild asthma, I sleep with the unit on – is that ok?
Explanations and useful checks for this situation: Pregnant, third trimester, mild asthma, I sleep with the unit on – is that ok?
Read also
- Sanitising with a cover bag or by dismantling?
- How much more a dirty unit uses
- Bad smell from the air conditioner
- Mould in the air conditioner
- Home humidity and air conditioning
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.