By, Lauren Kolacki
Summer is here and in New Jersey that means temperatures sky rocket. Fortunately, it is easy to just crank up the air
conditioning at the first drop of sweat but that is not always the healthiest decision. Not only does blasting the AC in- fluence your wallet, studies show that older units could be linked to health conditions. Since air conditioning is basically everywhere now, there are precautions you can take to making sure your AC unit is not harming you.
• Air Duct Cleaning- condensation or home renovations can cause a buildup of mold, dust or unwanted debris
• Have an HVAC technician perform annual maintenance checks.
• Check the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning or changing your unit’s air filters- when filters are dirty they don’t stop allergens, pesticides and other outside irritants from entering your home.
• Buy a new AC unit every 10 years.
• Turn the temperature up, or turn the unit off altogether, at night or when the house is empty.
• Try using the fan-only mode on your AC unit.
• Open the windows as much as you can. Allow fresh air to circulate in your home and flush out pollutants.