Air conditioning is more than just a comfort for when it’s warm outside. It can prevent serious health issues from risky heat waves. It halts outdoor pollution from circulating in your indoor space. It helps you sleep more peacefully. But while air conditioning can help you stay healthy and comfortable, an older unit can have 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. However, if you are noticing reoccurring challenges with your system before that, it doesn’t hurt to consider options beyond repairs and ongoing 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 operates by cooling air over evaporator coils, which generates condensation. When there’s condensation, mold can be present. And where mold can grow, so can bacteria. That can result in sickness. More often, though, mold and bacteria can bother 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 checking account. Your air conditioner is part of a complex appliance that works throughout your house. When it isn’t working properly, it can be dangerous for your home. The electrical component of your system is extremely important here, because HVAC units with older wiring are responsible for hundreds of house fires every 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 forms 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 continued exposure can have more serious health effects. If you are concerned you have a leak, reach out to a professional immediately.
Benefits from New HVAC Units and Features
A new air conditioner can do a lot to make your home 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 ages, it can decrease its cooling power and efficiency. That could mean sleepless nights when you’re unable to cool down. It could also leave you feeling uncomfortable or sick when the temperature outside rises exponentially. 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 anxious that your current air conditioner could be impacting your family’s health or want to see what a new air conditioner could do for your indoor space, give our team a call at 979-335-4262 or arrange an appointment with us online. Our professionals are happy to help you find a solution that works for your home.