Why Does My Throat Hurt with the Air Conditioning?
Sore throats and summer colds aren't caused by the cold itself, but by a lack of maintenance and improper use of the air conditioning.
Reviewed by Luis García — Certified Technician
Approved by supervisor Rafael Casas de las Peñas Del Corral
It's a summer classic in Madrid: you wake up in the morning, or leave the office, and your throat is dry, irritated, or you even have a mild cold. The first thing we think is "the air conditioning made me sick."
But in reality, the machine isn't to blame; it's how we are using it and its state of cleanliness.
### The 3 reasons AC irritates your throat
1. Dirty filters full of bacteria If you haven't cleaned your split unit's filters since last summer, the air it's blowing out is loaded with dust, mites, mold spores, and bacteria. Breathing that recirculated air for hours inflames your respiratory tract.
2. Lack of ambient humidity Air conditioning cools the air by removing its moisture. If you leave it on all night at a very low temperature, the environment becomes excessively dry. Your throat and nasal passages lose their natural protective mucosa, causing pain and irritation.
3. Direct airflow Sleeping or working with the jet of cold air pointing directly at your face or neck causes muscle contractions (stiff neck) and a sudden chilling of the respiratory tract.
### How to prevent it - Adjust the louvers so the air points towards the ceiling, not at you. - Keep the temperature between 24ºC and 26ºC. - Schedule annual maintenance: Deep cleaning of filters and the indoor coil is vital for breathing healthy air.
Are your employees complaining about the office air, or is your family waking up with colds? Contact PowerPro Madrid. Call us or send a WhatsApp for professional disinfection and cleaning of your climate control equipment.
