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 peacefully. 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 factors 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. Although, if you are seeing reoccurring problems with your system before that, it doesn’t hurt to consider options beyond repairs and more regular cleaning. Here are some issues that could affect your family’s health and should prompt you to consider a new system.
Mold and Mildew
Your air conditioner works by cooling air over evaporator coils, which creates condensation. Where there’s condensation, mold can develop. And where mold can grow, so can bacteria. That can cause sickness. More often, though, mold and bacteria can aggravate preexisting lung conditions and allergies. Ongoing maintenance can help eliminate mold growth, but broken pieces 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 budget. Your air conditioner is part of a complex appliance that works throughout your house. When it breaks down, it can be dangerous for your home. The electrical component of your system is extremely 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 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 started incorporating safer versions of it—especially in the last 15 years. However, refrigerant can still make your family not feel well. Mild exposure can cause headaches and dizziness, but lengthy 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 home more comfortable. Newer systems have technology that 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 lead to sleepless nights when you’re hot. It could also leave you feeling uncomfortable or sick when the temperature outside rises exponentially. 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 as needed 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. Together, 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 impacting your family’s health or want to see what a new air conditioner could do for your home, give our team a call at 256-801-4701 or arrange an appointment with us online. Our professionals are happy to help you find a solution that works for your home.