Do you know that there can be harmful bacteria and fungi growing in your aircon fan coil units? Each time you or your aircon service personnel clean it with a brush or vacuum, they loosen these spores from the surfaces of the fan coil units. These loosened spores will be blown into the air and breathed into your lungs the next time you use your aircon, making you sick.

Air health and wellness is important to healthy living. Today, we live in a world constantly threatened with airborne sickness and pollution. In Asia alone, SARS, Bird Flu, Influenza, Legionella not only threaten the region but also brought fear, awareness and action to the rest of the world.

It is thus imperative that we look closely into how indoor air quality can be achieved with a properly maintained aircon, at home and at work.

The home air conditioner unit basically recirculates the air within the confines of the room, air is not exchanged from the outside. The aircon unit typically consists of the fancoil that does the job of cooling the air and a blower which pushes the cool air into the room. Over time, both the fancoil and the blower will collect dirt and grime. This build up can be manifested anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months depending on your frequency of use of your aircon.

When dirt builds up, it is a hotbed for other bacterial and fungal activity to grow. For example, a person who is sick with influenza may enter the room and the virus may get transmitted to the aircon unit, remain there and ultimately get redistributed throughout the room, making others using this room prone and exposed to the virus.

The same dirt buildup will also impair the functions of the aircon, the dirt acts as an insulative layer over the fancoil making it not cool as efficiently. This effect ultimately will drive up energy bills as the aircon would have to work harder to reach the preset temperature. Dirt also laden down the blower and weakens the airflow into the room.

What can we do? under such circumstances, an aircon wash is necessary. You can contact a aircon serviceman to do the job or do the job yourself with a reputable DIY product. But make sure that whatever you do, ask the following questions:

1. Is the chemical you use certified non toxic?

2. Does the chemical have anti fungi and anti bacterial functions?

3. Can you clean the blower unit?

Make sure your aircon service personnel DO NOT simply clean the aircon with a vacuum and brush. This will agitate the bacteria and virus and might make you sick.