Maintaining indoor air quality is important, particularly in commercial spaces where there can be hundreds, even thousands of tenants at any given time. In addition to discomfort that can lead to complaints, poor indoor air quality can cause health issues that can lead to business disruptions. In today’s post, Dittmer Air and Heat takes a look at how you can help improve and maintain indoor air quality in your building.
Improve Ventilation
Indoor air quality is at its poorest levels when indoor air pollutants are concentrated in one area, which indicates insufficient airflow. Normally, the HVAC system creates airflow that takes the air in the room, filters and conditions it, then releases it as clean air. However, this is not always easily done — factors such as high concentrations of indoor air pollutants and poor airflow can defeat standard HVAC systems. The following are some things that can be done to improve airflow within the building:
- Replace the air handlers. The air handler is the part of the HVAC system that creates airflow. As a system with mechanical parts, it can get worn out over time, particularly the motors that run the fans. You can replace or upgrade the motors to improve efficiency and improve airflow in the building.
- Open the windows. If the spaces in your building have operable windows, opening the windows for at least 15 minutes a day will let fresh air in and flush out indoor air pollutants. To minimize disruption, you can have the windows opened by maintenance staff during off-hours, when the air conditioners are turned down, and closed before they leave.
- Run air purifiers. In buildings where operable windows are not ideal due to dramatic differences between indoor and outdoor air pressure, consider installing an air purifier or air scrubber for every floor.
Keep Up With Maintenance
Keeping up with scheduled HVAC maintenance can help ensure peak efficiency and maintain indoor air quality. As discussed above, mechanical components can get worn out. Signs that point to impending repairs can be detected during a routine maintenance inspection and help prevent emergency repairs during business hours.
Control the Sources of VOCs
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are indoor air pollutants that are off-gassed by everyday objects like paint, plastic and aerosols. Many types of VOCs are released over long periods of time and can accumulate in a room with poor ventilation. Allowing fresh air into the building can help reduce VOC levels. You should also find ways to keep off-gassing to a minimum, such as making policies that prohibit use of aerosolized products indoors and vetting paint and similar products to make sure they have acceptable VOC levels.
Dittmer Air and Heat is your trusted HVAC company that can help you address indoor air quality issues. Give us a call at (321) 637-0170 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.