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Vehicle Air Conditioning And Allergies: Is Your Car Making You Sick?

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As an allergy sufferer, you already struggle to keep the triggers under control in your own home, but you may not have given any thought to the impact your car is having on your condition. Living in Queensland, you will be aware of the high levels of humidity it experiences, and this humidity could be leading to mould growth in your car's air conditioning unit. So, what do you need to know about the connection between air conditioning in your car and your allergies?

Is Your Car An Issue?

Without having your car checked out by a professional, you cannot 100% determine whether your air conditioning has a problem by yourself, but there are a couple of clues that must lead you to get your car checked out:

  1. When you turn on your car, does a musty smell come through the air vent? If so, this is a clue that mould is growing within your air conditioning system.
  2. If your allergy symptoms are stronger when you're in the car, this is another indicator something in the vehicle is triggering your allergies.

How Does Mould Grow In The Air Conditioner?

The problem occurs if the vehicle's air conditioner has water pooling in it. This water may come from condensation or it could come from a crack within the air conditioning system that is allowing water to leak in when it rains. Either way, when water is left to sit in warm conditions (caused by both the heat of the car engine and Queensland's humidity levels) mould will grow.

Once you start your car, and also while it is moving, mould spores break free and travel through the ventilation vents into your car interior. Once in the car, then they will irritate the airways of all allergy sufferers in the vehicle.

How Do You Get Rid Of The Mould?

While the idea of using a spray bottle of bleach to spritz the air conditioner ventilation system may seem like the cheapest solution to your problem, it does not solve the issue of why water is pooling in there in the first place.

Instead, you are going to have to take your car to a servicing mechanic so they can check out the whole picture. While your car is there, they can look for leaks, remove the mould and make sure your air conditioner is in great working order.

You don't need to sneeze your way through your next road trip when you can have a car service mechanic sort out the problem for you in just a few hours.


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