Air conditioning is more than just a comfort for when it’s warm outside. It can save you from serious health issues from dangerous heat waves. It halts outdoor pollution from circulating in your indoor space. It helps you sleep more deeply. But while air conditioning can help you stay 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 suggest replacing air conditioning units when they are more than 10 years old. But, if you are seeing reoccurring issues with your system before that, it doesn’t hurt to consider options beyond repairs and routine cleaning. Here are some issues that could impact your family’s health and should prompt you to consider a new system.
Mold and Mildew
Your air conditioner operates by cooling air over evaporator coils, which creates condensation. If there’s condensation, mold can develop. And where mold can grow, so can bacteria. That can equal sickness. More often, though, mold and bacteria can aggravate preexisting lung conditions and allergies. Ongoing maintenance can help get rid of any mold growth, but broken components in aging system can help mold spread.
Electrical Components
The older your HVAC system is, the increased likelihood that you’re paying for expensive repairs more often. That’s not just bad for your checking account. Your air conditioner is part of a complex appliance that operates throughout your house. When it breaks down, it can be dangerous for your home. The electrical component of your system is very important here, because HVAC units with older wiring are responsible for hundreds of house fires annually. The longer you put off replacing your system, the longer you could be putting your family’s health at risk.
Possible Leaks
Air conditioners use refrigerant to keep your home cooler. But not all versions of refrigerant are created equal. As the HVAC industry has evolved, we’ve begun using safer versions of it—especially in the last 15 years. However, refrigerant can still make your family sick. Mild exposure can create headaches and dizziness, but lengthy exposure can have more serious health effects. If you think 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 home 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 ages, it can lose its cooling power and efficiency. That could mean sleepless nights when you’re just too warm. It could also leave you feeling uncomfortable or sick when the temperature outside rises greatly. With a new air conditioner, you can skip 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 regularly is an important part of keeping your home healthy. If you want to take that a step further, think about adding an air purification system to a new air conditioner. When combined, they’ll keep your home nice and cool, while filtering out more contaminants from the outdoors—like dirt, dust or pollen.
If you’re anxious that your current air conditioner could be harming your family’s health or want to see what a new air conditioner could do for your home, give our team a call at 251-471-2674 or schedule an appointment with us online. We are happy to help you find a solution that works for your home.