Window units are definatly not what you want to have
if you have CF.
It it can be hard to find information about it, and hard to find accurate information.
I know Air Conditioning though. I work in the field.
I have even spoke with CF doctors about this and they have agreed with me.
I also had to go through a time when I had no central air, and I can tell you it is NOT fun to do when you have CF.
When you get central air you notice a world of difference, not just with everyday, but even with not getting sick as often.
If you go and speak with your average air conditoner tech, he will more than likely tell you that your are o.k.
The problem is that unless people are REALLY familar with
Cystic Fibrosis, they do not know just how sensitive we are and how much the difference between central air and
window units can affect us.
While both types have filters, central units are better and window units are not as good at filtering out dust particles, dander, pollens, spores and other items.
(Regardless of what a sales person or tech may tell you)
Window units also have thier filters changed often, and
when you have CF, you would have to change them VERY often.
You would be looking at changing them once every couple of weeks even if directions say every 90 days. Just washing them would not be good either. Even with changing the filters that often, central units just do a better job of filtering out the things that harm our lungs, even compared to the newer window unit.While window units would be fine for healthy people, they are not for people that have diseases such as CF.
There are air purifiers and cleaners that people often buy to get rid of the germs and pollutants that a window unit cannot, but these are NOT recommended because they emmit a high level of ozone, which is a lung irritant that can cause lung inflammation, a very bad thing for people with CF.They have their other problems as well. Not only that, but the devices are now under great scrutiny by the health community and there is real question with virtually every company as to if these devices really work.
Also, humidity is a HUGE factor for us. It matters alot more it does with your normal person or even your allergy sufferer/athsmatic.
Window units do not come with hummidity controls and central air units usually do. What's more is that
despite what some people are told, window units can cause humidity because they actually aqquire moisture.
Portable humidifiers/dehumidifiers are sometimes
advised for people with window units but they
will not do the job to humidify/dehumidify the whole house.
Either can be very bad for a CFer... too much or too little.
Bottom line is that a central air unit is better
at keeping the humidity at a good level.
Many people try to use window units because they are cheaper and because they think they can save money on electricity but the fact is that is you use more than two window units in the house, you are not going to save money.
If you leave your units off during the day when you leave
(often done to try to save money), you are really leaving yourself in danger because of all the bacteria, and germs that manifest during the heat of the day. This is VERY important to remember when a person
with CF is concerned. And even if you do leave one unit on or two in the house on a timer during the day... the other rooms will be hot and will cause the bacteria/germs to occur.
Besides... if you tried to keep only one or two window units cooling the average 3 bedroom house, you would end up spending WAY more on electricity because the units are having to work so hard to keep the entire house at a certain temp. (and you can really even add on
those co-pay for medical bills from when you get sick. May sound a bit much, but it is absolutely true.)
Bottom line is this.
We have to remember that every time a CFer gets a lung infection, it has a big potential for shortening his/her lifespan, and that the smallest things can lead to us getting sick. So doing what ever we can to protect that is important, including making the indoor air the VERY best
that we can even if it is more expensive... at first.
Our health is what is most important.
if you have CF.
It it can be hard to find information about it, and hard to find accurate information.
I know Air Conditioning though. I work in the field.
I have even spoke with CF doctors about this and they have agreed with me.
I also had to go through a time when I had no central air, and I can tell you it is NOT fun to do when you have CF.
When you get central air you notice a world of difference, not just with everyday, but even with not getting sick as often.
If you go and speak with your average air conditoner tech, he will more than likely tell you that your are o.k.
The problem is that unless people are REALLY familar with
Cystic Fibrosis, they do not know just how sensitive we are and how much the difference between central air and
window units can affect us.
While both types have filters, central units are better and window units are not as good at filtering out dust particles, dander, pollens, spores and other items.
(Regardless of what a sales person or tech may tell you)
Window units also have thier filters changed often, and
when you have CF, you would have to change them VERY often.
You would be looking at changing them once every couple of weeks even if directions say every 90 days. Just washing them would not be good either. Even with changing the filters that often, central units just do a better job of filtering out the things that harm our lungs, even compared to the newer window unit.While window units would be fine for healthy people, they are not for people that have diseases such as CF.
There are air purifiers and cleaners that people often buy to get rid of the germs and pollutants that a window unit cannot, but these are NOT recommended because they emmit a high level of ozone, which is a lung irritant that can cause lung inflammation, a very bad thing for people with CF.They have their other problems as well. Not only that, but the devices are now under great scrutiny by the health community and there is real question with virtually every company as to if these devices really work.
Also, humidity is a HUGE factor for us. It matters alot more it does with your normal person or even your allergy sufferer/athsmatic.
Window units do not come with hummidity controls and central air units usually do. What's more is that
despite what some people are told, window units can cause humidity because they actually aqquire moisture.
Portable humidifiers/dehumidifiers are sometimes
advised for people with window units but they
will not do the job to humidify/dehumidify the whole house.
Either can be very bad for a CFer... too much or too little.
Bottom line is that a central air unit is better
at keeping the humidity at a good level.
Many people try to use window units because they are cheaper and because they think they can save money on electricity but the fact is that is you use more than two window units in the house, you are not going to save money.
If you leave your units off during the day when you leave
(often done to try to save money), you are really leaving yourself in danger because of all the bacteria, and germs that manifest during the heat of the day. This is VERY important to remember when a person
with CF is concerned. And even if you do leave one unit on or two in the house on a timer during the day... the other rooms will be hot and will cause the bacteria/germs to occur.
Besides... if you tried to keep only one or two window units cooling the average 3 bedroom house, you would end up spending WAY more on electricity because the units are having to work so hard to keep the entire house at a certain temp. (and you can really even add on
those co-pay for medical bills from when you get sick. May sound a bit much, but it is absolutely true.)
Bottom line is this.
We have to remember that every time a CFer gets a lung infection, it has a big potential for shortening his/her lifespan, and that the smallest things can lead to us getting sick. So doing what ever we can to protect that is important, including making the indoor air the VERY best
that we can even if it is more expensive... at first.
Our health is what is most important.