Air conditioning is more than just a comfort for when it’s scorching outside. It can save you from serious health issues from dangerous heat waves. It halts outdoor pollution from circulating in your house. It helps you sleep more peacefully. But while air conditioning can help you keep healthy and comfortable, an older unit can create negative health effects for your family. Here are some things 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 recommend replacing air conditioning units when they are more than 10 years old. Although, if you are observing reoccurring challenges 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 air conditioner.
Mold and Mildew
Your air conditioner works by cooling air over evaporator coils, which creates condensation. If there’s condensation, mold can be present. And where mold can grow, so can bacteria. That can cause sickness. More regularly, though, mold and bacteria can irritate preexisting lung conditions and allergies. Routine maintenance can help eliminate 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 scheduling 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 especially important here, because HVAC units with older wiring are accountable for hundreds of house fires each year. The longer you put off replacing your system, the longer you may 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 create headaches and dizziness, but lengthy exposure can have more serious health effects. If you are concerned 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. 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 continues to work hard, it can lose its cooling power and efficiency. That could result in 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 defend 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, consider 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 concerned 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 479-308-8176 or schedule an appointment with us online. We are happy to help you find a solution that works for your home.