Why not clean your air conditioning unit in the middle of coronavirus

Experts say you should keep cleaning your AC filter during the COVID-19 pandemic.


ThePandemic of Covid-19 Does everyone cleanse without stopping. OfWipe all the door buttons ToSanking of recently delivered packagesPeople get up their homes left right for things to disinfect to prevent the spread of coronavirus. But between all you spray and wiping, is there anything youshould not Be cleaning right now? According to experts, you should not clean your air conditioning unit during the coronavirus pandemic.

We askedQingyan Chen, PhD, Professor of Purdue UniversityTransmission of viruses through ventilation, who stated that filter cleaning in your AC unit is a bad idea. Chen has previously saidBetter lifethisAir conditioning can actually dismiss the coronavirus In possibly recirculating contaminated droplets too small for the system to filter. The chances of propagation of Covid-19 through the air conditioning are even greater if your home is based on central air conditioning instead of window units, and if a person from home is already sick with the virus.

That's why it recommends that you wait after the pandemic to clean your AC filter, which requires replace it because it "can have the virus about it". According to the benefits of the deposit of the house, you should beReplacing your air filters Every six months, depending on the type of air filter you have. But Chen said now is the moment of taking into account this domestic maintenance board.

To replace your AC filter, you mustOpen your air conditioning vent get to the filter. According to Chen, this is risky. It is not only possible that the filter can have the virus on it and expose you to Covid-19, but the opening of the vent and the removal of the filter could also free the virus in the air andContaminate other surfaces in your home.

Instead, Chen says that the best action plan is to let the filter remain inside the vent until the Covid-19 pandemic abstains to prevent the virus from spreading. As it is a hidden surface in your vent, it can not be easily touched only if you open the vent, so there is no risk of staying exactly where it is. MoreAir filters are made from either fiberglass, pleated paper or fabric encompass in the cardboard, and theThe virus can only last a few days on most surfacesYou should therefore be able to safely manage the filter on the line.

"In fact, an older filter has a higher filtration efficiency than a new one, so you must be sure" without replacing it, says Chen. "The only disadvantage is that you can have a little less air or use a little more energy."

But if you can not clean your air filter, how can you takeAdditional security measures To make sure your air conditioner did not spread coronavirus around your home? Chen says your safest choice is to use outdoor air by "opening a window", especially since most regions still experience moderate temperatures. If this is not possible, it also says that ceiling fans and table fans are a sure way to cool.

However, if you can not imagine living without AC, consider investing in window units, as Chen says, they only provide air for an interior space, eliminating the possibility of cross-contamination in your home .

Better life Constantly monitoring the latest news regarding COVID-19 in order to keep you healthy, safe and informed. Here are the answers to yourBurning questions, theways you can stay safelyand in good health, thefactsYou must know, therisksyou should avoid, themythsYou must ignore, and thesymptomsto know.Click here for all our COVID-19 covers, andSubscribe to our newsletter stay up to date.

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