Runny nose, allergies, toxic freon: what air conditioning is actually dangerous

Two years ago, I made an important decision for me - I left the office of a large company for freelance. Simply put, I began to work from a home computer. Together with the need to get up at 7 in the morning, a constant, annoying runny nose suddenly disappeared. “Chronic,” the doctors said. Office - I'm sure. The thing is that industrial air conditioners are dangerous not so much with the semi-mythical “legionnaires' disease” that ran through the front pages of world publications 20 years ago, but with daily petty dirty tricks for our immunity.

You can live with a runny nose - but better, believe me, without it. And do not forget that a commonplace cold can be just the first step.

About snotty offices

If you have worked in an air-conditioned office for at least a couple of months, then it’s not for me to tell you: in such places people get sick as in a kindergarten - “in a circle” they easily pick up all types of acute respiratory infections from each other. No one takes the hospital; it’s a matter of everyday life. Why it happens?

• The more air conditioning works, the less often the room is ventilated.

Many retain the illusion that the “condo” provides a steady flow of fresh air. In fact, this is completely wrong - it simply drives the air inside the room, cooling or heating it to the desired temperature. A powerful fan located in the case of the external unit is not intended for air intake, but for cooling freon.

Therefore, in any room you need to periodically turn off the air conditioner and open the windows. And if your office window doesn’t open, know that no matter what efforts you make, under such conditions you will not be able to significantly improve your health.

• Split systems dry the air.

Are you also annoyed by air conditioners always dripping onto the sidewalk? Well, those for whom they work are even worse. The air in the room becomes too dry, which negatively affects not only the condition of the skin. Mucous membranes also suffer - primarily the eyes and nasal cavity. And if the nose is dry, then the path is open for viruses and bacteria.

In the natural state, the nasal mucosa is wet, which allows you to catch the infection even at the entrance. And microparticles of dust, exfoliating skin easily settle on the walls of the nose, without penetrating into the depths of the respiratory system. As soon as the mucous membrane dries up, anything can easily slip inside - viruses, bacteria, allergens. Soon a runny nose appears - a sure sign that the pathogen has found a comfortable place in your rich inner world.

• In the contaminated filter, a lot of harmful settles.

Do you know that air conditioners need to be thoroughly cleaned periodically - at least once a year? Of course you know. But your boss, most likely, does not want to think about it. For him, this is an additional cost.

Meanwhile, in the filters of the outdoor and indoor units that just does not settle. First of all, of course, dust. A lot of dust. And already it becomes home to a wide variety of bacteria and fungi. Of course, there are harmless ones among them that have no effect on our health. But microorganisms come across more seriously. In a clogged filter, they actively multiply, and with a stream of "fresh" air they spread around the room. Then someone is lucky - someone will inhale a harmless bacterium, and someone will catch the infection.

If you are frightened by the dangerous “Legionnaire’s disease”, throw it out of your head - the Legionella bacteria multiplies only in stagnant water. In modern air conditioners there is no stagnation of moisture.

• Drafts and temperature contrast

But even a brand new air conditioner can blow you sick.Only people with very strong immunity can sit directly under a stream of cool air without consequences. The rest instantly catch a cold, myositis (this is when it “blew the neck”), otitis media and other troubles - sometimes very serious.

In addition, the body does not always tolerate temperature contrasts. When the street is +30, and you go into the office with a powerful air conditioning, the difference can be about 10 degrees. The body cools sharply, and on this soil, too, can save the immune system.

About scary freon

It’s worth saying right away that Freon is not one specific substance, but a whole group of refrigerants.

In air conditioners, three types of freon are now mainly used:

• R22 - unsafe, actively used in the 80s, now almost never found;
• R410A - considered safe, widely used in the manufacture of split systems;
• R32 - the latest generation refrigerant, also safe, wins in terms of efficiency and performance.

In those volumes in which freon is used in air conditioners, it is not dangerous even with a serious leak. The most widely used refrigerant R410A is a non-toxic compound without chlorine. It has no smell and color, cannot provoke a fire or explosion. In addition, its vapors do not destroy the ozone layer and are not harmful to health.

If you are unlucky and you use an old air conditioner, filled with R22 freon, this is also not scary. If a leak occurs, you will know about it: this substance smells of something like medical chloroform. Have you breathed? Do not panic. Yes, weakness, dizziness and even confusion may occur, but this will pass - you just need to go out into the fresh air. Otherwise, R22 is dangerous when heated above 250 ° C.

About modern air conditioners

You probably already realized that I do not scold air conditioners. If the split system causes problems, those who chose it, installed it, operated it, are to blame.

I also have air conditioning at home - without it it would be difficult to survive the July heat. "Conde" is, there is no cold. And all because I try to use the technique correctly:

• often air the room;
• I don’t sit under a stream of cold air;
• regularly clean internal filters;
• once a year (before the start of the season) I call the service department to clean the external unit;
• I do not leave the air conditioner working 24/7.

If you are afraid of drafts, leave the room for 10 minutes and turn on the air conditioner. During this time, he will bring the temperature in order, and you will have time to make yourself delicious tea.

As you can see, everything is simple. Unfortunately, in offices and shops, we can not do anything about the errors in the air conditioning system. But this is not a reason to abandon the home split system. If wisely approach the choice and operation, air conditioning will not harm you.

Georgy Arkhipov, designer