Air conditioning is more than just a comfort for when it’s scorching outside. It can prevent serious health issues from risky heat waves. It stops outdoor pollution from circulating in your house. It helps you sleep more deeply. But while air conditioning can help you keep healthy and comfortable, an older unit can produce negative health effects for your family. Here are some items to consider if you’re thinking of replacing your home’s air conditioner.
Potential Health Hazards from Old Air Conditioners
As a general rule of thumb, HVAC professionals advise replacing air conditioning units when they are more than 10 years old. But, if you are seeing reoccurring problems with your system before that, it doesn’t hurt to consider your choices beyond repairs and routine cleaning. Here are some issues that could affect your family’s health and should prompt you to consider a new unit.
Mold and Mildew
Your air conditioner functions by cooling air over evaporator coils, which creates condensation. When there’s condensation, mold can grow. And where mold can grow, so can bacteria. That can cause sickness. More commonly, though, mold and bacteria can bother preexisting lung conditions and allergies. Regular maintenance can help reduce mold growth, but broken components in aging system can help mold spread.
Electrical Components
The older your HVAC system is, the the higher the chance that you’re seeing expensive repairs more often. That’s not just bad for your wallet. Your air conditioner is part of a complex appliance that functions throughout your house. When it isn’t working properly, it can be dangerous for your home. The electrical component of your system is very important here, because HVAC units with older wiring are the culprit for hundreds of house fires each year. The longer you put off replacing your system, the longer you might be putting your family’s health at risk.
Possible Leaks
Air conditioners use refrigerant to keep the air in your house colder. But not all types of refrigerant are created equal. As the HVAC industry has evolved, we’ve started incorporating safer versions of it—especially in the last 15 years. However, refrigerant can still make your family ill. Mild exposure can create headaches and dizziness, but prolonged exposure can have more serious health effects. If you suspect you have a leak, call a professional immediately.
Benefits from New HVAC Units and Features
A new air conditioner can do a lot to make your house more comfortable. It can also help your family be a little healthier, especially when you add some more modern features to it.
Improved Comfort
As your air conditioner continues to work hard, it can decrease its cooling power and efficiency. That could lead to sleepless nights when you’re unable to cool down. It could also leave you feeling uncomfortable or sick when the temperature outside rises greatly. With a new air conditioner, you can dodge all that, and keep your family happy and healthy.
Purer Air
Any good air conditioning system helps guard you from outdoor pollution using your regular filter. And changing that filter frequently is an important part of keeping your home healthy. If you want to take that a step further, contemplate adding an air purification system to a new air conditioner. Working as a team, they’ll keep your home nice and cool, while filtering out more pollutants from the outdoors—like dirt, dust or pollen.
If you’re concerned your current air conditioner could be hurting your family’s health or want to see what a new air conditioner could do for your house, give our team a call at 614-879-9091 or arrange an appointment with us online. Our professionals are happy to help you find a solution that works for your home.