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 home. It helps you sleep more soundly. But while air conditioning can help you stay healthy and comfortable, an older unit can create 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
Typically, HVAC professionals advise replacing air conditioning units when they are more than 10 years old. However, if you are seeing reoccurring issues with your system before that, it doesn’t hurt to consider solutions beyond repairs and ongoing cleaning. Here are some issues that could influence your family’s health and should prompt you to consider a new air conditioner.
Mold and Mildew
Your air conditioner functions by cooling air over evaporator coils, which creates condensation. Where there’s condensation, mold can grow. And where mold can grow, so can bacteria. That can equal sickness. More regularly, though, mold and bacteria can irritate preexisting lung conditions and allergies. Regular maintenance can help reduce mold growth, but broken parts in aging system can help mold spread.
Electrical Components
The older your HVAC system is, the more likely it is that you’re scheduling 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 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 accountable for hundreds of house fires every 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 your home cooler. 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 sick. Mild exposure can bring headaches and dizziness, but lengthy exposure can have more serious health effects. If you think you have a leak, contact a professional immediately.
Benefits from New HVAC Units and Features
A new air conditioner can do a lot to make your space more comfortable. Some of the latest technologies can help your family be a little healthier, especially when you add some more modern features to it.
Improved Comfort
As your air conditioner gets older, it can decrease its cooling power and efficiency. That could result in sleepless nights when you’re hot. It could also leave you feeling uncomfortable or sick when the temperature outside rises greatly. With a new air conditioner, you can avoid all that, and keep your family happy and healthy.
Purer Air
Any good air conditioning system helps protect 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, 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 worried your current air conditioner could be harming your family’s health or want to see what a new air conditioner could do for your indoor space, give us a call at 309-517-7511 or book an appointment with us online. Our team is happy to help you find a solution that works for your home.