Indoor air quality is one of those things you may not think about on a regular basis, but it has an impact on everything we do. Low-quality air can cause health problems and dips in productivity over time, but there are ways to correct that.
Your HVAC and Indoor Air Quality
Many people are rightly concerned with outdoor air quality. Breathing in the thick smog in early 20th-century in London is not something anyone wants to go back to. What many people don’t realize is that although air quality has improved over time, it is still critically important that we don’t forget the spaces we live and work in.
Indoor air quality is just as important for us on a practical level, but we often assume that if the AC is running the air is being purified. Unless an HVAC system is set up and maintained properly, indoor air quality can become a major problem.
These problems can take a few forms. First, over time, employees can get sick. If the air is filled with allergens, dust, mold, or worse, the likelihood of people getting sick is dramatically higher. This is a problem on its own, but it also has consequences for businesses. If employees are forced to take more sick days, your organization’s productivity could drop.
If your employees aren’t getting sick but they are sneezing constantly at their desks or feeling lethargic, their motivation will inevitably take a major hit. A happy, alert workforce is a productive workforce, and improving the air inside your facility can make a massive difference.
All of this being said, there are a number of steps you can take to eliminate indoor air quality issues. These steps are important not only for your staff’s health and productivity but also to comply with indoor air quality standards for office buildings and other facilities.
Below are three approaches you can take to fit within regulatory indoor air quality parameters.
1. Install a HEPA Filtration System
High-efficiency particulate air, or HEPA, filtration systems are designed to virtually eliminate fine particles of dust, dander, or other contaminants that lesser filters would just let stream through. One of the best ways to see indoor air quality improvements is to have adequate filtration systems. HEPA filtration can be used to great effect in homes, industrial facilities, or commercial spaces.
2. Clean Those Air Ducts
When people think of maintenance solutions for their HVAC system, furnaces, air conditioners, boilers, and other equipment often come to mind. All of these are important, but forgetting about the air ducts themselves can be a terrible mistake. Your air ducts are the thing distributing air throughout your facility, and even if you are changing filters seasonally and engaging in regular preventative maintenance, your ducts are going to get dirty over time. Mold, mildew, and even rodent feces can collect in the ductwork.
3. Keep the Outside Out
If the air conditioner or other HVAC equipment outside isn’t tended to, the outside world can contaminate your internal systems. Simply clearing brush and tending to the surrounding area can have a significant effect on residential and commercial indoor air quality. When there are bushes in the immediate area, you aren’t just having to deal with plant matter either. Animals might make new homes nearby, leading to contamination at the source of your air. At the very least, it’s incredibly easy to wash away dirt and other materials from your AC unit itself. Professionals can even be called in to clean your system more thoroughly.
Poor indoor air quality could indicate a larger problem with your HVAC system itself.
Indoor Air Quality Is Critical for All Spaces
Industrial spaces are commonly thought of as the prime danger zone when it comes to indoor air quality, but commercial spaces and homes are equally important. Everyone knows that you should have proper ventilation when potentially hazardous substances are getting into the air, such as those at a manufacturing facility or even in a residential kitchen. But the need for protection doesn’t stop there.
John’s Service and Sales has a history of designing, installing, and maintaining HVAC systems that not only keep people inside comfortable but actually protect them from the hazards of poor air quality. If you are concerned in any way about the air quality in your facility, give us a call. You may have seen a steady rise in the use of sick days over the past few months or years, or perhaps you are simply worried about the health of your system. Either way, John’s Service and Sales will be able to solve the problem. Contact us today!
