The Role of HVAC in Indoor Air Quality During Flu Season
The American Lung Association reports that indoor air can be 200 to 500% more polluted than exterior air. Bad indoor air quality may be particularly detrimental during flu season.
HVAC systems play a critical role in controlling the air quality in your facility. You can use modern heating, cooling, and ventilation technologies to reduce the spread of airborne contaminants like viruses and bacteria. Here’s a look at how you can improve indoor air quality with your HVAC equipment.
The Importance of Indoor Air Quality During Flu Season
Flu season brings a heightened concern for the health and well-being of your team. You don’t want your staff to get ravaged by a nasty seasonal virus. You also don’t want to deal with the productivity consequences of a sickly workforce.
Commercial spaces can be especially problematic during flu season. Poor indoor air quality can make it easy for airborne contaminants to circulate and infect a large portion of your workforce.
Improving indoor air quality is the most crucial step in airborne contamination control. A well-maintained HVAC system can help reduce the risks to your workforce by filtering out harmful particles and providing fresh air.
Many different factors impact the performance of your heating, ventilation, and cooling system. You’ve got to account for all of those variables if you want to maintain excellent indoor air quality and help your team breathe easy this flu season.
The most essential variables to consider include filtration, ventilation, humidity, and proactive maintenance. Here’s a closer look at how these factors relate to indoor air quality.
Breath Easy With Great Filtration Systems
Air filtration is the best defense against contaminants. Heating and cooling systems are designed to filter and recirculate air. Standard filters aren’t all that good at trapping contaminants like viruses. The particles are just too small.
You’ll need to upgrade to high-efficiency air filters. MERV-13 filters are a great option. They can capture smaller particles and reduce the number of airborne pathogens circulating in your building.
You don’t have to stop there. You can incorporate supplement systems into your HVAC unit to make filters even more effective. UV light systems are a great example. They use powerful UV light waves to eradicate bacteria and viruses from indoor air.
After you’ve upgraded your air filtration capabilities, make sure to change the filters regularly. Clogged or dirty filters can worsen indoor air quality, even if they are higher-end products like MERV-13s. Follow manufacturer recommendations and stick to a stringent replacement schedule.
The Role of Ventilation in Better Indoor Air Quality
Ventilation represents another important part of controlling indoor air quality. You need to ensure that fresh, outdoor air gets circulated through the building. Fresh air can dilute pollutants and make your team less susceptible to getting sick. Stagnant air can allow harmful particles to accumulate, increasing the likelihood of transmission in enclosed spaces.
An HVAC system that promotes good ventilation can significantly reduce airborne contaminants by increasing fresh air flow. There are a few ways to increase airflow. Here’s what we recommend:
- Optimize your air exchange rates
- Check to ensure there are no blockages or mechanical issues
- Use energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) to reduce energy loss and maximize airflow
Well-ventilated spaces can help reduce the concentration of flu virus particles and other contaminants. This can be especially important in high-traffic commercial buildings.
Don’t Forget About Humidity Control
Research shows that the flu virus flourishes in low-humidity environments. HVAC systems that control humidity levels can help reduce the survival of these pathogens in the air.
The ideal indoor humidity range is between 40% and 60%. Ensure your unit is adjusted accordingly and can consistently keep the building’s air within this range. If your air is too dry, it can irritate the respiratory system and create an environment where flu virus particles can thrive. Too much humidity may be bad for the flu and can also encourage mold growth.
Make sure to monitor humidity levels and ensure proper ventilation. If your HVAC system cannot adequately control humidity levels in the air, consider installing a commercial humidifier.
Be Proactive for Excellent Indoor Air Quality
After you’ve addressed humidity, ventilation, and filtration, it’s time to maintain ideal indoor air quality. This means prioritizing regular HVAC maintenance. Routine checks and preventive upkeep will ensure that all components of your system are functioning optimally.
A well-maintained unit will promote better air quality and reduce your energy costs. Some common maintenance tasks include:
- Inspecting and replacing air filters
- Checking to ensure all vents and ducts are clear of debris or leaks
- Regularly calibrating and testing any humidifiers or dehumidifiers to ensure proper functioning
You’ve got enough on your plate, which means that some of these critical tasks can end up on the back burner. As a facility manager, you should consider outsourcing some of the more technical aspects of HVAC upkeep to a commercial team like The Severn Group.
We Can Help Everyone Stay Safe This Flu Season
Don’t let the seasonal flu ravage your workforce or disrupt productivity. Do your part to keep team members safe by proactively optimizing indoor air quality. Not sure where to begin? Contact The Severn Group and schedule a consultation with one of our experienced technicians.
We look forward to helping everyone breathe a little easier this flu season.
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