A broken air conditioner can be a serious problem for any homeowner, especially during the height of summer. If you are an older person, keeping your home's air conditioner up and running during the searing summer months can be especially important.

Why Are Air Conditioner Problems More Serious For Older Homeowners?

Extreme heat can be dangerous whatever your age, especially if you don't take proper precautions to stay hydrated and out of the sun. However, older people are generally more vulnerable to health problems caused by high temperatures.

As we age, our bodies become less able to adapt to extremely hot or cold temperatures. The sweat glands in your skin also become less efficient, reducing your body's ability to stay cool. This leaves older people more vulnerable to heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which can be life-threatening.

Older people can also be more vulnerable to extreme heat because of pre-existing, age-related health conditions. Health problems that are more common in older people, such as type II diabetes and high blood pressure, can reduce your ability to withstand very high temperatures.

Medications used to treat these conditions can also be a factor. For example, many of the most common drugs used to treat high blood pressure are also diuretics, which will make you urinate more frequently. Taking these drugs without upping your water intake can leave you dehydrated, and more vulnerable to heat-related health problems.

Older homeowners are also more likely to live in relatively old buildings, which tend to be less well-insulated than newer properties. If you have lived in the same home for years, but haven't had the insulation updated in some time, your home may become hot very quickly without a functioning air conditioner to keep things cool.

Which Air Conditioner Problems Should Be Considered Emergencies?

If you are an older homeowner, and your air conditioner has broken down completely during a period of very hot weather, trying to tough out the heat while you wait days or weeks for repairs can put your health and your life at risk. In these circumstances, you should call in a 24-hour emergency air conditioning repair service. These services will visit as soon as possible, day or night, and can usually get your air conditioner fixed within a few hours.

There are other problems that should also be considered emergencies, even if your air conditioner is still producing cold air. If you notice any of the following problems with your AC, calling in an emergency repair service as soon as possible is always the safest option:

Water Leaks

If any part of your air conditioning system is leaking water, it may have frozen coils or a clogged condensate line. These problems can cause your AC to cut out unexpectedly, and the leaking water can seriously damage the system's electrical components, not to mention the rest of your home.

Strange Smells

If the cool air coming from your air conditioner has a strange, burning smell, one of its fan or pump motors may be about to fail. Motor or pump failure is another common cause of unexpected AC shutdowns.

A cloying, sweet smell should also be a cause for concern, as this usually indicates a refrigerant leak. Leaking refrigerant is toxic, and running your system without enough refrigerant can cause permanent damage.

Contact a 24/7 emergency air conditioning repair company today to learn more.