Once I purchased my first home, I realized that I needed to do my part in caring for my home appliances. In addition to reading the user manuals for my kitchen appliances and state-of-the-art plumbing system, I realized that I also needed to do a little research about HVAC. Because I had no experience with HVAC systems, I called out a professional to teach me a thing or two. It was fascinating to talk with him, and I was able to take notes about all kinds of important topics, such as maintenance, troubleshooting, and even shopping for a new system. This blog is all about understanding HVAC guidelines.
Understanding HVAC Guidelines
Air Conditioners Save Lives!
Marilou Girard
Air conditioners are a vital part of healthy living. That may sound like a strange statement, since you probably know that the human body has ways of cooling itself off. However, for a certain cross-section of the population, an air conditioner in summer literally means life or death. Here is how air conditioners save lives.
For People Who Cannot Sweat
There are a number of congenital conditions that cause people not to sweat. Anhidrosis is the medical term given to those who cannot sweat or who sweat very little. It is dangerous because in the heat of summer these people overheat, get heat cramps quickly, and get heat stroke even faster than people who can sweat. Air conditioners are vital to the health and welfare of these people because it keeps their body temperatures at an even keel and keeps them out of the hospital.
For the Elderly
Senior citizens are especially susceptible to the heat because their bodies do not function as well as they used to. As such, they may not be able to sweat enough to keep cool, or they may sweat so much that they quickly become dehydrated. Certain medications taken by the elderly cause them to become dehydrated more quickly, which contributes to their untimely deaths on very hot days. The heat can also put extreme stress on their bodies, such that their hearts and pulmonary systems give out. If you have elderly relatives, make sure that their air conditioners are working in the summer and that the air conditioners are turned on.
For Babies
Babies, especially those under a year old, have not had time to develop their internal body regulators for temperature. While babies can sweat, they can overheat very quickly and can develop fevers that can traumatize their brains. Keeping babies cool on hot days is important for their health and their survival. A central air unit in your home is adjustable via the thermostat so that your baby is neither too warm nor too cold.
Keeping Air Conditioners in Tip-Top Shape
No matter who needs the air conditioning, you need to make sure the A/C units are working well, preferably before the first hot day of summer. If any of the above conditions apply to you or members of your household or extended family, get an air conditioning technician to look at, maintain, and/or repair your air conditioners now. Then everyone who is adversely affected by high heat and humidity can rest comfortably indoors.
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