Air conditioning is all about comfort. We have AC to make the temperatures of our rooms more comfortable to live, work and sleep in.
If the air conditioning units are causing us to suffer from runny or stuffy noses we are not comfortable and distracted from what we are doing.
The solution is not to turn off the AC but to find a way to remedy the runny or stuffy noses. But before we can solve the runny or stuffy nose we have to find out what the reasons are for the air conditioner causing the runny or stuffy nose in the first place and how you can stop it from happening.
This way we can comfortably get on with our day or get a good and regenerating night’s sleep.
Runny Nose In Air Conditioning: What Are The Causes?
A major cause of runny noses is cold dry air. This perfectly describes the conditions created by the normal operation of an air conditioning unit.
Air conditioning units are well known for causing peoples noses to run.
Dust particles and other allergens found in the normal air that we breathe are a very common cause of runny noses.
A lot of these dust and allergen particles can be drawn in and trapped by the air conditioners air filters.
However, incorrectly or irregularly maintained air conditioning units with dirty air filters can cause these particles to be blown out of the unit into the room and into your nose.
Also if these dirty air particles are too small to be trapped by the filters they too will be passed through the filters and out around the room.
All of which greatly increases the chances of irritants entering your nose and making it runny.
How To Stop Runny Nose From AC?
There are a number of solutions to the air conditioner causing your runny nose. The most obvious is of course to regularly clean the filters of your air conditioner.
Dehydration in the dry air created by the AC can ironically cause your nose to run. So make sure you are well hydrated and this may help prevent your runny nose.
As the dry air is often causing the runny nose you may want to use an air humidifier when you are in the room and the AC is on.
This can help significantly in reducing your runny nose.
You may also be having an allergic reaction to the particles being blown around the room.
To stop this just do what you normally do to alleviate your allergy symptoms.
You can buy nasal strips which you place on your nose to open up the nasal passages.
The larger volume of air passing through your nose will help greatly to relieve the irritation that is causing your nose to run.
Stuffy Nose From Air Conditioner: Causes & How To Stop
There is little more distracting than not breathing properly because of a stuffy nose. But why should this happen just from using the air conditioning?
Air conditioners can create mold and other allergens. This produces the perfect environment for creating an uncomfortable and irritating stuffy nose.
Sudden changes in air temperature such as moving from an unairconditioned space to a cold and dry air conditioned room can cause nonallergic rhinitis.
Allergies caused by pollen and dust that are being blown around the room by the AC unit can cause your nose to become stuffy.
The most efficient way of preventing a stuffy nose from the AC is to ensure regular maintenance of the AC unit and cleaning of its air filters.
The cause of your stuffy nose may be due to the dry atmosphere created by the AC unit. Try an air humidifier to alleviate your stuffy symptoms.
You can also try nasal strips. These open up your nasal passage allowing for a larger quantity of air to pass through.
Another method is to give your nose a regular steam bath. This helps hydrate and loosen the particles causing the stuffiness.
Air Conditioning And Sinus Problems FAQ
Can Air Conditioners Cause Sinus Congestion?
Air conditioners not only chill the air in a room but through the chilling process remove moisture from the air. Also as they blow out air this air stirs up dust particles in the room.
All these factors produce a cold dry atmosphere which is the perfect conditions for causing sinus congestion problems.
However studies have shown that a well-maintained air conditioning unit with clean filters can actually reduce sinus congestion from happening in the first place.
Can Air Conditioning Dry Out Your Nose?
Air Conditioning units use both mechanical and chemical processes in order to greatly reduce the ambient temperature in a room.
A consequence of these processes working simultaneously is the overall drop of moisture in the air.
A cold dry environment is the perfect condition to dry out your nose.