People with asthma and allergies sometimes feel like there’s nowhere they can breathe freely. But controlling indoor air quality with your central air system can actually help with allergy and asthma symptoms — if those systems are up-to-date and well maintained. 

We spend 90% of our lives indoors. As our indoor areas have become more comfortable, they’ve also become more prone to harboring allergens. We typically live and work in well-insulated spaces with double-glazed windows surrounded by carpeting, upholstered furniture, and other types of fabrics and fibers. If the air exchange inside is poor, these comfy conditions can lead to a more humid space with less fresh air, the ideal situation for allergens and irritants to build up.

Is Air Conditioning Bad for Asthma?

Air conditioning (cooling) systems can be bad for asthma, but only when they’re poorly maintained. If your system is maintained well, however, it can actually help improve indoor air quality and mitigate asthma and allergy symptoms.

The main culprit in ducted systems is clogged filters. When filters fill up, airflow in your home gets restricted and the air that does circulate has a heavier load of dust and other particles, a situation that can trigger an asthma attack or exacerbate allergy symptoms. 

The main culprits in ductless systems are clogged filters and dirty mechanisms. When the system isn’t clean and the filters are clogged, it creates an ideal environment for mold to grow. And when there’s mold in your ductless system, the system can release mold spores into the air.

But a well-maintained central air system can actually help make spaces healthier for people with allergies and asthma by filtering out particulates. 

Here’s How To Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

You can do many things to improve indoor air quality, including regular dusting, cleaning indoor textiles and soft furniture, controlling pests, and keeping pets out of bedrooms.

You can also leverage your furnace and air conditioning systems to help everyone stay healthy:

Maintain Your HVAC System

Because a faulty or neglected system can be a big contributor to decreased indoor air quality, it’s essential to make sure your system is operating well. Have your system inspected and maintained once a year. 

And be aware of your system’s age so you can prepare to replace it when it’s outlived its usefulness. When you do replace your system, consider installing a new one with features that make it simpler to maintain good air quality. Ask your HVAC contractor about HEPA filters, reusable microfilters, and systems that can accommodate filters with a high MERV rating. You can also inquire about systems that can tightly control temperature and humidity. You can also look into extra layers of protection, such as a whole-home air cleaning system.

Replace Or Clean HVAC Air Filters Regularly

It’s imperative to change your air filters regularly, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you wait, your filters will start to fail.

Use High-Quality Filters 

A 2013 study in the Journal of Asthma concluded that “While not all asthma and allergy triggers are airborne, some key ones are, including cat allergen, PM2.5 and respiratory virus. We evaluated the performance of different grades of filters in a modeling analysis, and we identified filters performing at an approximate MERV12 rating to be effective at reducing airborne asthma triggers by at least 50%.” [Bolded emphasis is ours.]

In other words: the better your filter, the better your air quality. Use a filter with the highest MERV rating your system can accommodate. Or, to make it simpler for yourself, stick to filters that are CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly®.

Improve The Airflow In Your Home

In addition to running fans and leaving interior doors open, you can talk with your HVAC contractor about other ways to improve airflow. If you have more than a light coating of dust in your ducts, they may suggest getting your ducts cleaned by a NADCA-certified provider

Keep Indoor Humidity Below 50%.

Excessive moisture in the air can trigger coughing in people with asthma or make other symptoms worse. Controlling humidity indoors can make a huge difference. High-performing HVAC systems allow you to track and control the humidity in your home from your smartphone.