Can Your AC System Cause a Sore Throat?

The quality of the air inside your home plays a major role in your overall health. During the summer, when temperatures climb, your air conditioner works hard to keep your home cool and comfortable. However, for some people, running the AC coincides with the onset of throat irritation. Fortunately, there are practical steps you can take to reduce irritation and protect your health.

Addressing Dry Indoor Air

When the relative humidity in your home drops below 35%, the dry air can irritate your sinuses and airways. Dry conditions often lead to throat soreness and worse allergy symptoms. If your cooling system runs frequently, it may be contributing to the problem. Air conditioning naturally removes moisture from the air, and during heavy use, this effect can become excessive.

To restore healthy air-moisture levels, consider installing a whole-house humidifier. It works alongside your cooling system to add and circulate moisture throughout your home. You can track indoor humidity levels using a smart thermostat with a built-in hygrometer or a separate humidity monitor.

Issues With Mold Growth

Mold can develop inside your air conditioning system, particularly on interior components and within ductwork. If mold is present, you might notice symptoms such as a sore throat, headaches, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, brain fog, or even digestive discomfort.

Our team can inspect your HVAC system to check for signs of mold. If needed, we can clean affected components and ductwork to stop spores from circulating through your home. We also recommend inspecting other areas of your home for mold and identifying the underlying cause, such as plumbing leaks, to prevent future growth.

Dirty HVAC Filters

Experts recommend replacing HVAC filters at least every three months. However, you may have to replace yours more often based on factors like how many people live in your house and if you have pets. A dirty filter can reduce airflow through your home and how well it captures airborne contaminants. Many homeowners check their filters once a month to ensure they know when it is time for a new one.

If you frequently have a sore throat after spending time at home, consider upgrading your filter. Look for the MERV rating (minimum efficiency reporting value), which indicates how effectively the filter captures airborne particles. For most homes, a filter rated between MERV 8 and 12 offers a good balance of filtration and airflow. Filters with higher ratings can restrict airflow and may not be suitable for all HVAC systems.

Upgrading to Whole-Home Filtration

While your HVAC filter helps protect your system’s components and offers some improvement to indoor air quality, it has limitations. This is especially true when it comes to capturing smaller particles like allergens, bacteria, and viruses. A whole-home filtration system is a smart investment for homeowners looking to significantly improve the air quality throughout their home.

Our professionals can install a whole-home air cleaner directly into your HVAC system. They clean the air every time your air conditioner runs. These systems can support more advanced filters, including HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters, which capture up to 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. This includes pollen, mold spores, dust mites, pet dander, bacteria, and even some viruses, all of which can contribute to respiratory irritation, sore throats, and allergy symptoms.

Unlike standard HVAC filters, which must balance filtration with airflow, whole-home systems are specifically designed to accommodate denser filters without restricting circulation. Many models also include additional technologies like activated carbon for odor and chemical removal or UV light to neutralize biological contaminants.

If you’re dealing with persistent sore throats, allergies, or general air quality concerns, a whole-home system provides comprehensive coverage that portable units or filter upgrades alone can’t match. Our technicians can help assess your needs and recommend a system that integrates seamlessly with your existing cooling system.

At Rick’s Heating & Cooling, we are here to help you improve the air quality in your Morrow, OH home with expert inspections, maintenance, and repairs. We also install whole-home filtration and humidity control systems tailored to your needs.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment for improved airflow and air quality with one of our experienced technicians.