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 continue to be healthy and comfortable, an older unit can produce 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
Usually, HVAC professionals advise replacing air conditioning units when they are more than 10 years old. Although, 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 unit.
Mold and Mildew
Your air conditioner operates 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 aggravate 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 the higher the chance that you’re seeing expensive repairs more often. That’s not just bad for your checking account. 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 every 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 you cool. 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 continued 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 space 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 continues to work hard, it can decrease its cooling power and efficiency. That could mean 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 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. Working as a team, they’ll keep your home nice and cool, while filtering out more irritants 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 763-535-2000 or book an appointment with us online. Our professionals are happy to help you find a solution that works for your home.