Can AC fumes make you sick?

Author: Vallie Fritsch  |  Last update: Saturday, March 22, 2025

Living or working near an old and moldy air conditioner can increase your chances of respiratory infection. Mold also causes symptoms like throat irritation, wheezing, and congestion. If you are feeling any of these symptoms, it may be time you checked out your surroundings for mold.

What are the symptoms of getting sick from AC?

If you work in an air-conditioned building with poor ventilation, it can raise your risk of “sick building syndrome.” Symptoms include headaches, dry cough, dizziness and nausea, trouble concentrating, fatigue, and sensitivity to odors.

How do you know if your AC is leaking carbon monoxide?

TL;DR: Carbon monoxide (CO) leaks from your HVAC system can be dangerous and go unnoticed without proper attention. Signs of CO leakage include flu-like symptoms, yellow or flickering pilot lights, soot buildup, and strange odors.

Can fumes from an air conditioner make you sick?

Leakage from a damaged air conditioner can harm the environment and release toxic fumes that can make you and your family sick.

What are the symptoms of too much air conditioning?

Dry eyes, lethargy, dehydration, dry or itchy skin, headaches, respiratory issues, allergies and asthma, noise pollution, infectious diseases, and indoor pollutants are among the common health concerns associated with prolonged exposure to air conditioning.

Can Air Conditioning Make You Sick?

How do you treat AC sickness?

It is advisable to use a humidifier alongside your home conditioner if you experience any air conditioning sickness symptoms. Also, drink a lot of water during the day to reduce this effect.

Is it bad to sleep next to an air conditioner?

If any of the dirt, bacteria, dust, and other particulate matter that's hiding in your vents gets into your lungs, it can cause some serious infections and sleep issues. Sleeping with the AC on can also cause some physical issues, including dehydration.

What are the symptoms of air conditioner bacteria?

Legionella bacteria can proliferate in air conditioning systems, particularly in cooling towers. Inhalation of contaminated aerosols can lead to Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of pneumonia. Symptoms include high fever, cough, and muscle aches. In extreme cases, it can be fatal.

Can you get air conditioning poisoning?

Chronic freon poisoning consists of long-term exposure and typically affects HVAC technicians. A leaky air conditioner or refrigerator can cause acute freon poisoning. According to WebMD, the symptoms of acute freon poisoning include: Sore throat and swelling in sinuses.

How to treat air conditioner lungs?

In more severe cases, avoidance may not be enough. Then, treatment may include corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medication to reduce inflammation and prevent your immune system from reacting to the allergens you inhale.

What are two warning signs of carbon monoxide poisoning?

The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. CO symptoms are often described as “flu-like.” If you breathe in a lot of CO, it can make you pass out or kill you.

Does AC release harmful gases?

Freon: This refrigerant is common in older AC units. While it's essential for cooling, a leak can be harmful if inhaled in large amounts. Carbon Monoxide: Not directly a part of the cooling process, but if your AC is combined with a furnace or has any combustion processes, there's a risk of CO production.

How do you know if CO2 is in your house?

What Are Signs of Carbon Monoxide in Your Home?
  1. Yellow or orange flames coming out of your gas appliances instead of the usual blue flame.
  2. Dark and sooty staining on or around gas appliances.
  3. Pilot lights that frequently blow out.
  4. Increased condensation on windows.
  5. Solid fuel fires burn much slower than usual.

How long does AC sickness last?

[12] The symptoms usually disappear hours or in some cases days after removal from that environment.

Can a freon leak in AC make you sick?

One significant health risk is refrigerant poisoning. Inhaling Freon or other refrigerants, even in small amounts, can lead to headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Exposure to refrigerant fumes can quickly escalate to more severe health issues, such as loss of consciousness and even death.

What are the symptoms of a dirty air conditioner?

They can make your family sick:

Your family may suffer upper respiratory infections if they experience coughing, headaches, sneezing, nasal congestion, sore throats, runny noses, and low fevers due to dirty air-conditioning filters.

How do you know if your air conditioner is making you sick?

A dirty AC system can lead to many breathing problems. If you have a runny or stuffy nose that develops when you're inside but goes away when you leave, this is a clear indication that your air conditioner's filter is dirty.

Are AC fumes toxic?

Possible Harmful Chemicals: Other sources suggest that portable AC exhaust could contain harmful chemicals and gases like benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides. These substances can cause respiratory issues, headaches, dizziness, and other health problems if present [2] [3].

How to know if Freon is leaking?

One of the most overt signs of a Freon leak is a sweetish smell comparable to nail polish remover. This may indicate the general location of the leak and where to begin testing. Oil spots on tubes, joints or near HVAC components may come from the oil in refrigeration coolant which would indicate a leak.

Can air conditioning cause flu-like symptoms?

Fatigue or Feeling Sick May Relate to the AC

The cold temperatures may cause fatigue, headaches, dizziness or other symptoms of a cold or flu. A simple solution for this problem is turning up the temperature.

What are the first signs of Legionnaires' disease?

Legionnaires' disease, the pneumonic form, has an incubation period of 2 to 10 days (but up to 16 days has been recorded in some outbreaks). Initially, symptoms are fever, loss of appetite, headache, malaise and lethargy. Some patients may also have muscle pain, diarrhoea and confusion.

Is bad AC smell harmful?

If your air conditioner smells musty, take action to solve the odor immediately. Mold inside the HVAC system impacts indoor air quality, and it can spread and grow in other areas of the home as well as cause health issues or increased allergy symptoms due to breathing indoor air heavy with spores.

How to treat air conditioning sickness?

Drink more water to keep yourself hydrated and your throat and nasal passages moist. If you are experiencing exhaustion, headaches, and sore muscles and joints, turn that air conditioning down! Your air conditioner should be set at a comfortable, room temperature.

Is it better to sleep with an AC or fan?

Here's what to consider: Climate and Weather: In regions with warmer climates or on cooler summer evenings, a fan might be all you need to stay comfortable. However, an AC is better when dealing with extreme heat or high humidity.

What are the side effects of AC on humans?

Some harmful effects of air conditioning are:
  • Headaches: Headaches due to the excessively cold environment created by the air conditioners is very common. ...
  • Skin problems: ...
  • Laziness: ...
  • Reduced heat tolerance: ...
  • Dry eyes: ...
  • More risk of infection:

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