Why Does Air Conditioning Cause A Sore Throat?

As the weather warms up for summer, many folks are turning their air conditioning units on—with good reason! Unfortunately, sometimes air conditioning can result in a sort throat. Have you ever experienced this sensation? It’s not fun—you go to sleep in a nice, comfy cool room on a warm summer’s night and wake up with a throbbing, sore throat.

We did some digging to find out what causes this, and how you can avoid it while using your A/C during the hot summer months! Check out the causes, reasons, and solutions behind the A/C sore throat phenomena, below:

Cause: Poor installation

Reason: Poor installation of the unit can lead to poor air circulation, which in turns leads to the system stagnating in certain areas, which can cause build-up and thus, infection.

Solution: Make sure that the unit installed is designed to handle the air flow of the space; if not, upgrade your unit.

Cause: Poor maintenance

Reason: Poor maintenance can lead to dirty filters, which can potentially cause problems like mold!

Solution: Replace air filters regularly and have a professional inspect and maintain the unit for you annually.

Cause: Running the system with the vent control closed

Reason: Running the unit this way can lead to poor air exchange between the outside and inside of your home, allowing for stagnant air which can cause infections.

Solution: Open those windows! Get some fresh air circulated in your home, or even run the system for a while with the vent control open.

Cause: Running the system too long (too much aridity)

Reason: When the air becomes too arid, the throat membrane can become irritated and inflamed as super dry air passes from the environment and your lungs.

Solution: Try running the system less if you can, or run a humidifier to compensate for the dryness. You can also open your windows to allow for air exchange.