How Does My Family's Health Impact Getting a New Air Conditioner?

June 06, 2019

Air conditioning is more than just a comfort for when it’s scorching outside. It can prevent serious health issues from dangerous heat waves. It keeps outdoor pollution from circulating in your home. It helps you sleep more deeply. 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 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 recommend replacing air conditioning units when they are more than 10 years old. But, if you are observing reoccurring issues with your system before that, it doesn’t hurt to consider your choices 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 unit.

Mold and Mildew

Your air conditioner works by cooling air over evaporator coils, which generates condensation. If there’s condensation, mold can develop. And where mold can grow, so can bacteria. That can equal sickness. More often, though, mold and bacteria can aggravate preexisting lung conditions and allergies. Routine maintenance can help eliminate 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 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 accountable 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 types of refrigerant are created equal. As the HVAC industry has evolved, we’ve begun using 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 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. 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 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 to the extremes. 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 defend 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, think about adding an air purification system to a new air conditioner. Together, 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 hurting your family’s health or want to see what a new air conditioner could do for your home, give us a call at 520-200-1048 or arrange an appointment with us online. We are happy to help you find a solution that works for your home.