Why Your HVAC Should Not Be Part Of World Senior Citizen Day
It may sound odd to think about your HVAC on World Senior Citizen Day, but there is a good reason to do so! If you are not familiar with this holiday, World Senior Citizen Day was established by the General Assembly of the United Nations to help bring to light some of the issues that impact our senior citizens.
Whether you know it or not, one thing that can have a large impact on senior citizens is the state of their HVAC system. An Aging HVAC system can have detrimental health effects on the old and young. While we look for ways to make things easier for our elderly community, we want to start by bringing awareness to the impact that a new heating and air conditioning system can have.
Start With Air Filters
The air filters in your HVAC system are going to eliminate the solid particles that are polluting your indoor air. This can be things like dust, mold, and pollen. If you have ever noticed a layer of dust on your air filters, it is time to replace them.
When a layer of dust in clogging the filter, they are no longer working to clean the air. A good rule of thumb when replacing your air filters is to do so every 90 days. This can be increased or decreased depending on your lifestyle.
For example, older residents with respiratory illnesses that have pets should change their air filters every 20 to 45 days. On the other hand, vacation homes, or single homes where there are no pets and the person has no allergies can wait up to 6 months to clean their HVAC. The best practice is to periodically check your air filters for that layer of dust. If it is accumulating quickly, you will need to change them more often.
Know The Health Risks
The health risks for poor indoor air quality can be greater; and greater still for senior citizens. The EPA reports that indoor air is more polluted than outdoors. As mentioned above, anyone (particularly senior citizens) with respiratory illnesses can be greatly affected by poor air quality.
Unfortunately, your HVAC system can contribute greatly to your indoor air pollution; which is why it’s so important to install a new HVAC system when the time comes. Some things that your HVAC contributes to your poor air quality are as follows:
- Carbon Monoxide
- Nitrogen Dioxide
- Sulfur Dioxide
- Mold
- Mildew
- Dust
- Pollen
These are only some of the irritants found in the air, but they can cause coughing, allergies, exacerbated asthma and emphysema, dizziness, headaches, nausea, nerves. Obviously, these issues are far more serious in an elder person.
Know Where To Turn
On August 21st we will celebrate World Senior Citizen Day! In an effort to make the senior people in your life more safe and comfortable, have a look at their HVAC system.
An HVAC system is not a fine wine and is not going to age well. If you find a new HVAC system is needed, call Cellino Plumbing, Heating & Cooling for help!
We have certified technicians standing by ready to answer any of your questions! Give us a call today at (716) 822-7551. Our friendly team members are standing by!