car air conditioner making me cough?
June 19, 2020 5:53 PM Subscribe
Is this a thing? What could be the reason why? Can I do something to fix it?
It's been blazing hot here in New York and I've been driving a lot with my air conditioner on. I've noticed that after I take a car ride with the a/c running, I end up coughing for the rest of the day - a dry cough, almost like a smoker's cough. I am a former smoker (quit 18 months ago), but I haven't experienced this phenomenon before with my car. Could the a/c actually be triggering this cough, and if so, why, and how can I fix it so that it stops happening? It's really annoying, but I can't drive around without the a/c when it's 87 degrees outside...
If it's relevant, I drive a 2016 Honda Fit.
Thanks.
It's been blazing hot here in New York and I've been driving a lot with my air conditioner on. I've noticed that after I take a car ride with the a/c running, I end up coughing for the rest of the day - a dry cough, almost like a smoker's cough. I am a former smoker (quit 18 months ago), but I haven't experienced this phenomenon before with my car. Could the a/c actually be triggering this cough, and if so, why, and how can I fix it so that it stops happening? It's really annoying, but I can't drive around without the a/c when it's 87 degrees outside...
If it's relevant, I drive a 2016 Honda Fit.
Thanks.
This post was deleted for the following reason: posters request -- frimble
Best answer: When was the last time you replaced the filter?
posted by Automocar at 6:01 PM on June 19, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by Automocar at 6:01 PM on June 19, 2020 [7 favorites]
I agree with Automoto that you should check your air cabin filter. I have a much older Honda Fit, and I'm glad to see that it looks like on your 2016 model it's probably as easy as for my model. You can google videos to see a walk through but it's a cheap part (about $10) and about 5 minutes to access the filter through the glove compartment. Taking out and putting back what you have in the glove compartment takes longer than the replacement itself.
posted by past unusual at 6:06 PM on June 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by past unusual at 6:06 PM on June 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
I have asthma caused by inflammation; AC makes me cough. Clean filter will help, and I direct the vents away from me wich helps a bit.
posted by theora55 at 7:10 PM on June 19, 2020
posted by theora55 at 7:10 PM on June 19, 2020
Some cars have 2 filters, an external and an internal. Make sure to replace both or the problem wont go away (ask me how I know ugh)
posted by ananci at 7:26 AM on June 20, 2020
posted by ananci at 7:26 AM on June 20, 2020
2015 Honda Fit driver here, and I agree you should change both the engine and cabin air filters. I would add you ought to try to change them every six months; I subscribe on Amazon to make sure I have them when needed. The cabin filter on this car in particular gets very dirty, and you may be amazed at how much crap turns up on the spent filter.
posted by JimInLoganSquare at 9:23 AM on June 20, 2020
posted by JimInLoganSquare at 9:23 AM on June 20, 2020
In addition to filters, it's possible for mold to grow inside some of the ducts. Start up the air conditioner (of just the fan), give the intake (minus any intake filter) a few shots of Windex, turn the fan off and let things set for 20 minutes. Then turn the fan and let the ducts blow out until the Windex smell is gone.
But if you're also noticing a foggy build-up on the inside of the windshield or windows, you might have a fluid leak under the hood that's getting in through the air conditioning. That'd be very worth a trip to the mechanic to check out.
posted by dws at 10:31 AM on June 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
But if you're also noticing a foggy build-up on the inside of the windshield or windows, you might have a fluid leak under the hood that's getting in through the air conditioning. That'd be very worth a trip to the mechanic to check out.
posted by dws at 10:31 AM on June 20, 2020 [1 favorite]
I’m in a vehicle around 4 hours per day. I’ve noticed the same problem, and in my case I’ve concluded that it’s dry air from conditioning the air in such a small space. Setting the intake to fresh air helps, as does drinking water and setting the temp a little warmer.
posted by coldhotel at 6:46 AM on June 21, 2020
posted by coldhotel at 6:46 AM on June 21, 2020
I have suffered from this all my life (also gets triggered by heavy pollen, dust, pollution in general). Doctors just brush it off as allergy and inflammation and whenever I visit them (after getting frustrated for few months) they just prescribe Allegra for 10 days which sometimes helps a lot, sometimes little.
But it has quite exasperated in last year and a half. In fact now in general there's a small amount of very thick phlegm deposited right in my throat every morning when I wake up (but this daily routine involves no coughing at all; that's reserved for exposure to cold/damp weather, very cold AC etc). For the rest of the day any phlegm rarely comes out from my throat but there's this constant viscous feeling/sensation in that area. CT scans, sputum culture, and nasal endoscopy has apparently proved that phlegm, or lung etc are free of any infection (CT scan showed DNS though and one doctor said it might somehow be related). I guess I'll just live with it as the city where I live is just that -- a bit cold (loved this weather when I came here years ago :P), often damp, and lots of pollen and pollution :/
It's really better in warm, dry, relatively pollution free environments. I'd suggest getting in touch with a doctor and possibly looking at it from allergy angle.
posted by amar at 9:11 PM on June 21, 2020
But it has quite exasperated in last year and a half. In fact now in general there's a small amount of very thick phlegm deposited right in my throat every morning when I wake up (but this daily routine involves no coughing at all; that's reserved for exposure to cold/damp weather, very cold AC etc). For the rest of the day any phlegm rarely comes out from my throat but there's this constant viscous feeling/sensation in that area. CT scans, sputum culture, and nasal endoscopy has apparently proved that phlegm, or lung etc are free of any infection (CT scan showed DNS though and one doctor said it might somehow be related). I guess I'll just live with it as the city where I live is just that -- a bit cold (loved this weather when I came here years ago :P), often damp, and lots of pollen and pollution :/
It's really better in warm, dry, relatively pollution free environments. I'd suggest getting in touch with a doctor and possibly looking at it from allergy angle.
posted by amar at 9:11 PM on June 21, 2020
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posted by Melismata at 5:59 PM on June 19, 2020